Dive Bar & Grille

I was PLEASANTLY surprised by this place. First off, it's right above the Antiques Mall at Savage Mill. It is a pretty nondescript restaurant. Very pub style set up. The menu looks like it was made by the guy who does Bar Rescue. Our service was great though. Very attentive. Also, I was legit SURPRISED by some of the food I hate there. We got these things called "Chicken Poppers" which imagined to be popcorn chicken bites (as they were like under the wings section of the menu). But they were more like tenders than anything. This section was pretty confusing though - I literally had to ask our waiter for clarification. I imagine this happens often, cause they provided a pretty solid explanation. Basically, that section is "anything your heart desires."We got the buffalo/garlic parmesan (which was one flavor). These were SO GOOD. Like legit... I want them right now. My friend got this steak and cheese bowl that was literally served over a giant mount of tater tots. He let me taste some, and it was epic. It was REALLY rich and heavy though, so he took home a good portion of it. But it was legit really tasty. I ended up getting the chicken sandwich with house cut fries. The house cut fries were meh. The chicken sandwich was also decent but didn't really wow me. The chicken poppers and the steak and cheese bowl wowed me. I'd go back for those poppers. Also like I said, service was quality.

Came here for dinner for the first time with a group of friends. Hubby and I ordered their soft pretzels appetizer, grilled balsamic veggie wrap with tater tots, black and bleu burger, and 2 drinks for an approximate balance of $65.What's Hot- Menu. Pretty good variety. There appears to be something for everyone, even vegans. - Quality. Pretty good. Their soft pretzel sticks appetizer were pretty soft and warm. No additional salt and still flavorful. I would recommend their tater tots over their fries (see below). The balsamic veggie wrap I ordered was pretty tasty, especially because the veggies were tender and still warm. My friend ordered their balsamic brussel sprouts, which were tender, tasty, and with a hint of sweetness. - Service. We were a group of 9 people and asked the waitress to split our checks accordingly. She did a good job of tracking everyone's orders and ensuring that we had a couple of pitchers of water at our table.- Price. Pretty reasonable, especially given the portions. Good value for money.What's Not- Quality. Their fries aren't very good. They're soft and tender, but not seasoned at all (i.e., as in no salt). Although my balsamic veggie wrap was good, there wasn't a very good balsamic vinegar flavor that I could taste (i.e., no sweetness). Disappointing, because I expected more. Hubby's black and bleu burger also appeared to be lacking in bleu cheese. It was there, but the portion was lacking. - Service. They appear to be somewhat short staffed, so be prepared for slow service. Also, hubby and I were charged automatic gratuity. I presume this is because our whole group was 9 people, but I was surprised that our final tab for 2 people included automatic gratuity. Depending on the size of your group, be aware. - Parking. There is a parking lot behind the main building, where the restaurant is located. However, this parking lot can get full easily, especially depending on the day and time you're there. There's an overflow parking lot, which is further down the end of the block and requires more walking. Not bad, but depends on the weather.Final AnswerWould be willing to return, but not a first choice.

I used to come here when it was Rams Head, sometimes the service was crappy but the food made up for it overall. As I live in the area, I decided to give this new incarnation a try. What a waste of time and money. The food was awful and the service was the same as before, not great. The crispy Brussel sprouts were overly sauced but ok. I also tried the Smoked Gouda Risotto, the chicken Cesar salad, and hangar steak with fries, all just underwhelming and nothing I'd want to eat again. There are many other places in the area that have better food and service.

We live close but rarely come here because the service is so poor. We decided to give it another shot and it hasn't gotten better. Staff are apathetic at best. The seem to be sleep walking through the day and it may be due to the aroma from extra curricular activities. This has gone down hill since its opening a few years ago. The floors felt dirty and sticky. Our table was also a little tacky. The hostess prior to seating us took a napkin and swiped across the table. That should have been a hint.The food is still good but not what it was when the Dive Bar opened. I ordered the steak salad which tasty. The steak was cooked a little past medium and the steak was a little fatty. Two of us at the table ordered the steak salad that included a side of fries which wasn't brought. When we asked only one of us received our fries. This may explain why there were very few people in the place. It's too bad because it's close and used to be a good spot to have beers and dinner when it was Rams Head.

I came here after a holiday work event upstairs. We decided to come here because the food at the event was so good. In my mind I assumed it would be great downstairs given its from the same restaurant.We had intentions on ordering two apps and two entrees but the apps were not good AT ALL. The crab dip was so oily and bland. The calamari tasted like flour and was soggy. We explained this to our server and her entire demeanor changed. She told us she had to go make 7 waters for other patrons at the bar , and that she would return after. 15 minutes later, and after watching her carry on with other staff, it was clear that she was was not ok with the fact that we had an issue with our food. We paid for the crab dip as my friend said he could "doctor it up" at home, but we returned the calamari. This, and the fact that we were there around 9pm ( they close at midnight) yet servers were spraying, sweeping, mopping and put chairs up on all other tables around us left a bad taste in my mouth. So, we decided to leave.

I love this place - the ambience is bar rustic with more light if that makes sense. The service is great - asked all the right questions and got our food out quickly.The food...this menu is great and I have never had a bad selection - when your food arrives it is as good looking as it tastes and that is a huge difference - caring about what comes out is just as important as the taste - if it looks bad then...it is likely the same.The shrimp tacos were great looking and even better tasting! The turkey Gouda melt was tasty and we both left happy about everything. Hidden gem and who knew this place replaced "Rams Head" - nice substitute!Go and eat here! The food is above good!

We've eaten here before, and the food was unmemorable, but not bad. This time, we were waiting for a table because the kitchen was backed up, so we decided to get drinks while we waited. We went over to the end of the bar near the host/entrance. All bar seats at that end were open, but we stayed standing there to order, since our son was with us. After about 10 minutes of the bartender looking over and ignoring us, I sat down in a bar seat in case she didn't realize I wanted to order, while my husband continued to stand nearby with my son. We waved, and she finally came over, only to say that we can't sit there. I let her know that we just wanted to order drinks to have while waiting for a table. She responded by saying loudly that we have to leave because we have a kid (who was only near the bar since there was nowhere else to wait, but he wasn't seated). I told her that I understood, pointed out that he was not sitting, and asked if I could order drinks and stand with the drinks while we waited. She said that she can't serve me because I have a kid, and rudely and loudly emphasized that this was against the law. I am aware of the laws, go out to eat often, and felt this was very disrespectful and rude (especially in front of a kid). We cancelled the table reservation, left, and won't be back.

A promising vibe and good service, but the food was so lackluster that no one finished their plate. Fries weren't salted, Turkey was dry, sandwich was assembled sloppily, salad had dressing that was too thick to even come out of the cup it came in. Unfortunately, I don't think I would come back.

Service isn't always great and the food is what you would expect for a "dive" bar. We've had okay food here. The sandwiches are great.

The service was excellent! Really enjoyed the crowd, must try if you're in the area. Note, there's a cash/credit price so you may want to cash to save a little. ;)