Hempen Hill BBQ Bar & Catering
13208 Fountain Head Plz, Hagerstown, MD, 21742
Hempen Hill BBQ Bar & Catering Menu
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Address :
13208 Fountain Head Plz
Hagerstown, MD, 21742 - Phone (301) 797-4455
- Website https://hempenhillbbq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Jeff S.
Had to try this out as it clearly looks like Yelps go to spot in Hagerstown. Had dinner there last night and was very happy with my experience. I saw others had issues with service but thankfully I did not encounter any issues. Sat at the bar and the bartender was very attentive and did not try to upsell me additional food as my instinct is always to order to many items. Liked the beer selection a lot (from bourbon barrellis to Lagunitas Fusion 24). Had the crab bisque which was good and the pulled pork sandwich. Of course you get the slaw on it. Sandwich was very good though I was surprised that there was no carolina bbq sauce option (had to go with the spicy bbq sauce). Granted there was vinegar on the pork already but you always need more! Mac and cheese was good as well though nothing extraordinary. Might have to go back to try the crab chips. Though that's my stomach talking again.
(4)Amy L.
We ended up here after a few false starts - 1 restaurant closed for the evening, 1 restaurant closed permanently. So we stayed even though we could see the band setting up to play (and knew it would be too loud for us). We managed to be served and finish dinner just as the band started to play. I had Crab bisque which was tasty. My entree was BBQ brisket and pulled pork. I ordered mac & cheese on the side, but my son took this so I can't speak to the taste. My hubby had a chorizo burger that he liked a lot. The fresh cut fries cost $2 extra - odd? My son had chicken tenders that were fine. The service was sporadic - sometimes our waiter was very attentive, then he'd disappear for a while. In any event, I didn't find anything here to draw me back. The food and service were both OK
(3)Sheri B.
I am a longtime fan of this restaurant and positively recommend anyone to dine here. Menu has a wide variety and can meet any dietary desires... from full on carnivore to strict vegetarian and they are conscious of gluten issues as well! The barbecue is good and steaks are generally very good. Good variety of sides, try the smoked mac and cheese for a treat. i only gave 4/5 stars due to the inconsistent nature of food and service. Sometimes the food is great, out of this world, other times, it's just good (never bad, just not always fabulous). Service can be hit or miss as well, but in general this overall approach is causal to laid back, so don't expect a server standing at your elbow.
(4)Ben S.
I moved from the South where BBQ was king, and I was not bale to find a good BBQ place until I found Hempen Hill BBQ. This place has great food and the atmosphere is lively. All the food is great, but you have to try their smoked wings and the Brisket Burger for new twists on classics.
(5)Holly C.
3.5 Decent bbq. We had stopped in randomly during our trip cross country. The service was a bit slow (took a while for someone to come get our order even though it was slow) which is why I bumped it down rather than up.
(3)Jenny S.
Always great wings, especially on "Wednesday Wing Night"! Friendly and casual atmosphere, great choices on the menu. One of my fave's is the Brunswick Stew or their Soup of the Day.
(4)Jim M.
Amazing Steak on Thursday after 5pm. Okay start with a beer as you have a lot to choose from, order tater Tots that are so yummy you want more. Cannot go wrong here anytime from lunch to dinner. Or just coming to party with friends this is a 5 star restaurant. Must visit if you are out of towners. One of my favorites.
(5)Gary R.
me and my family arrived about 10pm on Friday night 05/22/15. I figured the BBQ wouldnt be that good becuase of how late in the day. WoW!! was I surprised.. we had the wings, I had the brisket.. My son had 1/2 bird.. Mine was very very good but looking at my son's chicken is look so juicy. The wings was great.. My wife didnt get anything bbq and she hers wasnt that bad.. I just wish I lived near here so I could try the chicken.. But we was in town for the Geowoodstock Geocaching event. If I come back in this area I def will be eating here again.
(5)Debi R.
From time to time you just need some good ole BBQ to hit the spot and when you do this is the spot to come. We have tried just about everything on the menu and I can honestly say that there isn't anything that I wouldn't order again. Want to change the way something is prepared? We have asked for it on the side or to change it and never been denied. Stop in and you won't be disappointed.
(1)James C.
The best BBQ. The sweet potato biscuits are outstanding. And I thought I knew bacon until I tasted their bacon, I now think any other bacon is basic. Every time I come the BBQ is moist, the filet is fork tender, and the music is the best. I travel from Baltimore just to eat there an hour and a half is nothing for their food. I also like the fact that I can make reservations online. That is a plus for a popular casual restaurant with great food and an awesome atmosphere.
(5)Michael S.
I love this place. I've used their private room for meetings and other celebrations and have had really good experiences. The beer list is great. We've also used their catering for family gatherings, and it's been a family favorite. They get a star taken away for rare inconsistencies--I've been there a couple times and the meat was just bone dry. A little extra bbq sauce makes it better. Brunswick stew is a favorite and I order it every time I go. Their mac and cheese is delicious. My kids love it as well.
(4)Lily R.
I'm so happy I found this place! Good restaurant to go to if you're on a day trip to the Hagerstown Outlets- it's about 15 minutes north, and far superior to the outlet mall food court. I got there about 5:30 on a Monday night, and the place was pretty full by 6. I soon learned why. Their BBQ is fantastic, and I'm no stranger to BBQ. I got the NC pulled pork sandwich, and it was moist and delicious, served with an interesting and tasty coleslaw with an oniony taste and celery seeds. They have three sauce choices, original, hot and sweet. I got the Mac and cheese side, which was creamy and rich. Their Texas brisket is supposed to be the best in the state, or so I heard (although I did not try it). And ohh the crab chips! This is an appetizer of kettle chips covered in cheddar cheese, crab dip, scallions and tomatoes (which makes it healthy). This shiz is amazing. I can't believe more restaurants don't serve crab dip on chips! It would serve like 8 people too, it's so huge. All the portions are, in fact. I brought home enough leftovers for another meal or two.
(5)Mark M.
Great food, good prices and fantastic staff. Go see Terri, Jen or Kennedy at the bar. entrees are very good no matter what you choose. Most of the sides are great. The only thing I think could be improved is the spinach. Think they was to be sautéed but was a little dry and lacking in flavor. The other sides are great. Oh the tuna appetizer is one of the best items on the Menu.
(4)Tim K.
The atmosphere was very open and well done. The food was delicious and very generous portions. The price was fair. The staff were attentive. I will eat here again. They are closed on Sunday.
(4)Angela C.
I've been here a few times and have never been impressed. The chicken is some of the tiniest pieces I have ever seen, but the price is large. The sauce was ho hum. The steaks were not up to par. Their sides had no flavor. The ribs were a big disappointment. The 2 times we went that there was supposed to be entertainment, they were no shows. One time we got stuck at that tiny table by the bar, cramped and loud. I had high hopes for this place, since there were so many good reviews, but it showed to be mediocre at best.
(2)Alison M.
I am not impressed with this place. It was OK, service could have been better. I probably wouldn't go here again.
(3)J D.
I was really ready to like HH. However, I left disappointed. We were invited by family to have dinner with them this past weekend. We did have a reservation which is good because I heard one couple being told that they had a 4 hour wait. Really? It's 6 p.m. Give me a break! We have been here before but not within the past year. I liked the presentation of the new menu (it's a newspaper!), but I'm not sure why they are collected after. I mean, how durable IS a newspaper? I was not at all happy with the menu choices though. I was looking for the dish I had the last time, "Take a Tour" or something like that. I was able to try a little of all their meats and it was very good; especially the chicken. However, when I asked about it, our waiter said that they had just changed their menu last Wednesday and that we should complain about the changes. In fact, he said, "Complain...LOUDLY." So, file my official complaint. Hempen Hill, do you really want your servers saying this though? If they aren't buying into it, why should we? I was also disappointed in the side choices. The only available vegetable that evening was kale. I have nothing against kale, but it doesn't seem very BBQ-y to me. Again, my waiter told me to complain about that too because most customers do not like the kale. In fact, he said, "They like to do strange things with the sides around here." The meal was very pricey for 2 adults and 2 kids coming in at $75. No alcohol was ordered, either. It was very loud inside and just not a great place for a family dinner. The waiter couldn't even hear us. We were also sitting at a table near the door so we were constantly feeling the draft of the doors opening and closing and had to eat with our coats on. This also cooled off our food quickly. That evening all of the people who ate onion rings ended up sick on their stomachs as well. If you are truly looking for a BBQ dinner, I would suggest going elsewhere. If you want to go to a bar and hang out with your friends this place might work. It is definitely not a family restaurant though.
(2)Fat T.
Service: A+ what you'd expect in a small torn. Friendly, personable service. Brisket: moist and flavorful Baby back ribs: dry rub and smoky flavor was good enough I didn't use much BBQ sauce.
(5)jack b.
Went twice, first time was ok, nothing to write home about, second time we were ignored for 25 minutes after being seated and we finally gave up and walked out. They need some help for sure. If you are busy and can't get to me just tell me and i will understand. If you continue to walk past and act like i'm invisible i will leave.
(1)Marie H.
If not the worst, the second to worst meal and drink I've ever had! The bartender had the nerve to ask if I wanted a box to go. With my Margarita down two sips and all the pulled beef still on my plate, it never occurred to him to ask if there was a problem. I ordered the just meat with two meats and it comes with a side. The beef was stringy and chewy with no flavor, and the sausage, which they make on premises , would have been great except for the spices that were so hot, I had to ask for water. I don't mind paying for premium meats, but this place is definately not worth your time or gas.
(1)Dave H.
Was OK. Basically stuck in a strip mall. Could use more bar space, and beer selections. Food was decent the two times I went for dinner, and price was OK. Just nothing that makes me want to go back over and over again.
(3)Chris V.
I really enjoy Hempen Hill. I wish their hours were extended. I get off at 11pm and can't drop by for one of their awesome brews. You have to go check out the offerings of food and their live music is the best in the area.
(4)Allyn S.
The service was extremely slow and they were not all that busy. I ordered a margarita and I really don't know what type of mix or juice that was put in it but it was horrible. I ordered the pit beef sandwhich which is not a sandwhich at all because by the time it's brought out the bun is soaked thru with whatever the chewy beef is soaked in. My boyfriend hated it, I would probably try something else Becuase I have heard good things but he will never go back.
(2)Clarence J.
Hempen Hill is an outstanding place for lunch, happy hour, or dinner. It's got very good barbecue, with very enjoyable sides. There's great smoke to the meat (as well as in the Smokey Mac & Cheese side, which was a favorite among the people I was here with). The portions are good-sized, and there are loads of options with which to customize your meal. The menu is pretty large, and everything that I tried was very good. The sauces were mostly sweet and tangy -- but not too sweet -- and had great flavor plus a little kick; I would've preferred more kick, but they were good nonetheless. Hempen Hill has a great beer selection also, most of which aren't the norm in the area. This is a huge place, with a rustic look and high ceilings. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about what they're serving. And there's great old rock and roll playing in the background. I enjoyed it and thought it was worth the drive from DC. (I admit that I like road trips anyway, but for much of the barbecue in the area I wouldn't have any desire to make a second long trip.)
(4)Simeon B.
Worst BBQ ever. Everything was very dry and flavorless. The service was bad and the waiter consistently ignored us. Will never go here again. If you enjoy going to this place seek medical attention.
(1)John L.
We have been loyal patrons of this establishment for the past two years. It has been our go to Friday night eatery because of the good food and close proximity to our house. However they have recently hired a new head chef and adopted a new menu. They have removed several of our favorites and even the BBQ doesn't taste the same. We ate there tonight and the meat was dry and didn't taste quite right. I have been on the toilet off and on for the past hour. Why change your menu and fix something that is not broken? I will no longer frequent this place and have deposited my loyalty card in the trash. It was a good run Hempen Hill!
(2)K W.
Pretty good vegetarian option. :) will come back again, some what expensive tho
(4)Letise D.
After a long day of travelling, I found this place based on the Yelp reviews. I was not disappointed! The kids meals were a little pricey, but the chicken tenders were a big win with the kids. My son rarely raves about food, but he ate them quickly and said they were delicious. It was $18, pre-tip, for 3 kids to eat, though, and that hurts. We ordered the Crab Dip Chips, and we were definitely fighting over them. Delicious. The Brunswick Stew was so good that we ordered a pint to take home. The Pulled Pork and the BBQ Salad were excellent, as well. This is a really neat place, with excellent service and food. If you're willing to spend a little extra for a quality meal, eat here!
(4)Marie M.
I really want to like this place, because so many people I know seem to. So I gave it another try for lunch today, and again I was disappointed. I ordered the soup, salad, slider platter. The crab bisque was fair; not many chunks of crab and the flavor was bland. The pit beef sliders were pieces of beef on plain, flavorless rolls, and the smoke flavor was weird and unappetizing. The "salad" was warm, wilted mixed greens that looked like someone took a handful out of a salad bag and threw onto the middle of the plate. The hot bacon dressing had disgusting hunks of fat in it and an "off" onion flavor. The only two good things about my lunch were the sweet tea, and the server - he was very nice. Otherwise, go to Black Hog or Blues BBQ Truck in Frederick, Mountainside Deli in Boonsboro, or Texas Roadhouse for pit beef and barbeque.
(2)Dave Z.
Started with the "Take a Trip" app. I'm not much for ribs but really like pulled pork. The ribs were ridiculous. Next time we go I may get a full rack. Moist, tender and delicious. The pulled pork is right there with the ribs. The chicken and pit beef were very good also. I could have stopped and been very happy. We got the "Feel the Briez" and "Alamo Melt" and both were very good. The only downside was the sides. Mac and cheese and the crab soup were just OK. (Maybe some bacon in the mac and cheese?) I can see the trophies were well earned. I can see where it would be very loud if crowded. Will definitely be visiting again.
(5)Y K.
Driving from NYC back home (eight hours of driving , ugh... ) , tired of chain restaurants , we yelped and found this place. I am glad we decided to go, it was just a few minutes from highway which is another reason to love this place in addition to their super delicious burger and extremely awesome service. I am not sure when will be the next time I will be able to go there but I definitely envy all who are lucky to live close to this lovely restaurant. PS. It seemed to be a nice place to go and watch sport games as well, I would give it a try for NBA play offs !
(5)Katie S.
While the food is good, the service has been slow like molasses the last 3 times I've been there. I've given them enough opportunities to get the service right but finally had to post a review. I don't think I'll be eating there anymore :(
(3)Christopher B.
Truly phenomenal bbq. Sampled the brisket, ribs, chicken, and pork. Can't go wrong. An array of sauces to choose from. Lots of alcohol and craft beer choices as well. Sides were just ok but I was so full towards the end it truly didn't matter much. Highly recommend a visit.
(5)Ashley W.
Tucked away in an empty plaza in Hagerstown, we found Hempen Hill. Just the thought of living about 70 miles from this restaurant and only now discovering it makes me want to kick myself. As the portions are hefty and we will certainly be wanting some craft beer, we split the Alamo Melt. It is one big, delicious sandwich paired well with a side of Smokey Mac & Cheese. Do not leave without getting an order of Crab Chips, and g'head and put some malt vinegar on those bad boys..
(5)Cliff B.
I love this place! Not only is the food fantastic, but every time you go in, and I mean every time!, they want to make sure that your experience is the best that it can be and that the food you order is prepared perfectly! Hempen Hill definitely takes care of you. When you walk in the doors you are family at a family owned place. Everyone that works at Hempen Hill looks to take care of you and show you their foodie love. Plus, you won't find a better selection of micro-brews on tap. While the selection is always being refreshed, Caleb (the front house manager) is always working hard to ensure that all the brews he has available are tasty, stylish, and stalwarts for the savvy palate of the discernible beer aficionado. So, not only do you have a great beer selection to choose from, but you have one of the best menus that you will ever find. A menu that is always being refreshed with new items and love. Are you a vegetarian? Well, you've come to the right place! Kathy (the owner) is too! She knows what you'd like to eat to satisfy your hunger and you have no further to look than the menu at Hempen Hill. Now, if you're a meat-eater, like me, your carnivorous delights are there too. After all, it's one big family at HHBBQ, the food is diverse, the people are diverse and the libations bring us all together. What are you waiting for? Get on down to HHBBQ and enjoy the award winning food and bring all your family too! We look forward to seeing you and warmly welcoming you into the family.
(5)Andrew B.
Good beer. Good music. Good BBQ. Even good vegan options. Just go.
(5)Kaleb A.
Honestly, I've eaten at better restaurants. In my opinion, the food was just average. The smoky mac & cheese was definitely different but I've eaten better mac and cheese made by family members. I will say that the ribs were good and tender. I'll probably return to try some more of the menu items but I don't really see what all the fuss is about at this point.
(3)Dave S.
I got the pick 2. Pulled chicken and pulled pork. baked potato as a side. it was pretty meh. I spent the summer in Raleigh, NC and had much tastier pulled pork. Nothing really wowed me, but the crab chips were probably the highlight. mmmm dat guac.
(3)Gary D.
While traveling across to Hagerstown, we found this restaurant on yelp, and decided to try it on a whim. Turned out to be great food at a great price, a very good barbecue restaurant
(4)Chris P.
I usually get the brisket or one of the 'just meat' platters...can't go wrong either way! When this place is busy, it's almost impossible to hold a conversation, but don't let that stop you from going...live music on the weekends and an awesome menu create a great dining experience!
(5)Katie P.
Love the smoked wings, beer selection, and burnt ends! We've quickly become regulars after moving to the area recently. Oh! And the sweet potato biscuits (by request only) are great for dinner or left over for breakfast the next morning!
(5)Barbecutioner K.
this review is my first impression after one visit. i went in and the place seemed nice inside. it looks like a fun place to hang out and drink because it appears they have live music and a good beer selection. im not not big on the whole stoner theme they have going on (HEMPen hill bbq, 420 references, and staff wearing tye die) but the service was good, quick and friendly, and the food was ok. i got the bigger portion of the brisket that came with 2 sides. this included 6 slices of brisket and i got the potato salad and smokey mac n cheese. the mac n cheese was pretty good. decent flavor but a little extra seasoning could have put it over the top. the texture wasnt too bad but it seemed like it had been sitting around a while, it wasnt very creamy. the potato salad i did not like at all. small chunks of potato and large chunks of egg. as for the meat, it was a little overdone. not the most moist brisket ive had but moist enough i guess, the slices pulled apart too easily, it was a little crumbly, and the spice rub was very mild, i couldnt taste it really. as for the smoke, there was very little smoke ring on it and the smoke flavor was pretty mild. it came with a bbq sauce that was pretty thin and tasted a lot like coke-a-cola. i tried the other 3 house sauces, the sweet, regular, and spicy. they all seemed pretty generic, thick with corn syrup. my fav was probably the spicy, even though it had very little kick. i also got an add on of a quarter rack of ribs. they were't fall off the bone, which is a good thing. they had a little pull and the meat close to the bone was tender and moist enough but the meat on the ends was overdone and hard to chew. again the dry rub was very mild, i actually didnt taste it at all, but this time the smoke was overpowering, a little bit too much. if i have the time i would give their food another shot, id like to try the wings and the pit beef and also try the brisket and ribs again to see how they differ from my first experience. id get the mac n cheese again but not the potato salad. oh yeah, one last thing, what kinda bbq place doesnt have cornbread?
(2)Andrea A.
Not only was the food outstanding, but the service was out of this world!!! Thank you server John H. for the exceptionally pleasant customer service and recommendation. The brisket was so delicious and tender, I barely had to chew it! SCORE!
(5)Bill B.
Being a BBQ chef myself, I always go into a place with very high expectations. My first trip to Hempen Hills a few years back wasn't very memorable. I had the multi meat platter and to me the food was just ok. Fast forward two years later and this is now the only place we go in Hagerstown when visiting the outlets (sometimes just for BBQ haha). I got a full rack of ribs on our second trip and the gf got a pulled pork sandwich. Everything was amazing! The ribs were out of this world. They had perfect flavoring, were incredibly moist yet not fall off the bone sloppy (reals ribs don't fall off the bone, that is overcooked) and the sides were better. After the second time we have returned numerous times and it just gets better! A little pricier than most BBQ places, but trust me you are paying for what you get, great food and very good sized portions!
(5)Bryant W.
I'll start from the beginning. I've been here several times before and the food has been good and the service marginal at best. Last night, walk in at 5:50 with a party of 3. I'm told that we can sit at the table but only until 7:30 because there's a reservation then. No need to verbalize that hostess. Makes you feel unwanted already. It didn't help that we sat there for 10 minutes before we were asked for a drink so we ordered everything then cuz who knows when the waiter would be back. The smoky mac and cheese is no longer smoky, it's just regular mac and cheese which I like, just don't call it smoky. My ribs could not have been more dry. Absolutely no juice to them and they were hard to chew. Also up charging $2 for French fries that were soggy is also asking too much when your ribs and mac and cheese were already disappointing. I smoke meat at my house regularly and always eat barbecue out. I'm not just a crazy person giving bad reviews, im a disappointed customer. Probably won't ever go back based on previous experience and this one topped it off for me.
(1)P H.
What happened to this place!? Can't get a table because the excuse is reservations!? Why would you allow over 6 tables to sit empty while many are there waitng to be seated. Doesn't make sense and a lot of people left and will not return. Poor management. Try Black Eyed Susan's . We ordered wings and the MD crab salad. It was excellent.
(1)Diana J.
Great food and drinks. The menu has a good selection for some of my family who are vegetarians. Looking forward to going back. Also great live music.
(4)Nick D.
Good bbq, pretty cool spot too. I had a pulled beef bbq sandwich for lunch that was very tasty. The beef was tender and juicy, great flavor. I liked the bbq sauces at the table that you can put on yourself. Nice to choose. The side I had was summer veggies in a tomato sauce (kind of a cop out at a bbq joint, but that was my choice). It was really good. The sides are usually a throw in, especially veggies, but I really enjoyed it. It was almost like a ratatouille. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
(4)Steve C.
We stopped by here late afternoon on a Saturday. We were seated and it took a few to get our drinks. Only one staff working the tables in the dining area and there was no urgency. Seems like the other staff arrived at 5. We started with the crab chips and I have to say they were pretty awesome. I ordered the meat trio, sliced brisket, sausage, and pulled pork. It came with a very small side of coleslaw. I enjoyed the brisket, good flavor, smoke ring. The pulled pork had a different taste and seemed kind of mushy. The sausage was not what I usually expect for a BBQ sausage link. Others had the ribs and they were not really tender and complained of a lighter fluid smell. The other food ordered was ok. They offer three different BBQ sauces and all taste really good. It is not a bad BBQ place for this area, one of the few.
(3)Anna B.
This is our go-to place for wings, bbq and so much more. The Kettle Crab Chips are absolutely the best appetizer I have EVER had and we get those every, single time we go. I've also experienced one of their steaks and have to say it was better than any I've gotten at a local steak house - so tender I could cut it with my fork. The owners here are friendly and knowledgeable. The staff is fantastic and always have the answers to your questions about the food. Hands down, the ONLY place in Hagerstown for BBQ and wings!
(5)Shari S.
Holy cow, this stuff was GOOD! I ordered the Bar-B Chef Salad and it was absolutely massive. I seriously wasn't able to eat even half the meat on this salad. I must have piled about half a pound of meat onto the Hubs' plate just to get to the veggies. So yummy, so tender, so flavorful. This is just what barbecue should be. I felt like I was back at home rather than in Maryland. Definitely recommend.
(5)Dolores G.
Service is either a hit or miss depending on server. However food is always right on & great selection.
(3)Jay P.
A must if your in Hagtown. Really really good NC style BBQ. Really really good brisket. Beer cheese soup was downright delicious.
(4)Wayne H.
Wonderful birthday weekend dinner! Drinks: Dogfishhead Draft - 4 stars Ranger IPA - 3 stars Absolute and cranberry - 2 stars Appetizers: 1lb wings smoked - 4 Stars 1/2lb steamed shrimp - 3 stars (shrimp not de veined) (cocktail sauce was great) Crab Chips - 3 stars Dinners: Full Rack of Ribs with smoked mac & cheese and Potato salad - 4 stars Nothing but meat (3 meats) backed beans & coleslaw - 4 stars We traveled to Hagerstown from the PA ski lodge to get some good BBQ and we were impressed with this restaurant at the end of the strip mall. The establishment was clean and the food was good and homemade. We ordered too much food and had to take a lot home. The full rack of ribs is way too much food, it is not your regular small rib slab. The smoked mac and cheese was delicious and the potato salad taste like they had some soul food folks working in the back. I was happy with the sides because usually restaurants that specialize in certain foods let there sides go to hell but that was not the case here. All in all I was impressed and would return if I were in the area. Service - 4 stars Ambience - 4 stars Food - 4 stars I will be back if I am in the Harrisburg area, and I will order the Beef short ribs.
(4)Mike B.
We were visiting from Oregon and by chance a band from my past was playing so we checked it out. Fabulous.....great beer selection, great prices, awesome bbq and a great show. We sat in the bar and the service was very good and the server was helpful in explaining the beer selection. When we are back in the area we will be back!! BTW, Hexbelt still rocks!!
(5)Mike M.
"Don't waste your money here." That was what I texted from inside the restaurant when I checked in on Yelp. I really cannot understand all the positive reviews. Here's the rest of my review: Our experience had two disappointing areas: The food and the check. Let's start with the food. I ordered the pit beef sandwich and fries for $8.99 (or so I thought). The item comes with one side, fries are a common side. You can get sweet potato fries, slaw, and a variety of other items but for fries, as it turns out, they charge you two dollars more, as a premium side. So my $8.99 sandwich became a $10.99 sandwich. This is absolutely something the waitress should have pointed out when we placed the order. My sandwich came out stone old. I picked up the sandwich to eat it and it had been sitting for so long in it's own juices that the bottom bun had disintegrated. The locally sourced bun seemed nice, the top did at least. The fries (the PREMIUM side) were unsalted and room temperature. The meat was completely flavorless. In fact, I only ate about half of it (with a fork, no bottom bun) before I gave up realizing it wasn't worth the calories. My wife ordered a NC Pulled Pork Sandwich. It was also $8.99. It comes pre-sauced however, they deliver a "six-pack of sauce" to the table. Ok. It was actually three sauces, two of which appeared to be the same plus ketchup, mustard, and vinegar. The two similar sauces were actually pretty good. They were darker, sweet sauces. The other was kind of a mustard sauce. Still very thick but lighter in color and not strongly flavored. Her sandwich was much better than mine. I would call that chopped pork, though, not pulled pork. The flavor was pretty good, had a nice smoke, but there was no bark. She too ordered the fries (for the unexpected $2) and the sandwich was served a tiny scoop of slaw on the side and a pickle. The slaw was very good and reminded me of some much better restaurants. Only two of our kids were with us. The 9 yr old ordered a kid's mini pulled pork sandwich, $5.99. For some reason, it comes with TWO sandwiches, both pretty good size. Really, normal sized sandwiches and she ordered fries. This kid is a good eater and she could only finish one of the sandwiches. No idea why there is so much food on the kids order. Our 4 yr old was also with us and only wanted french fries and chocolate milk, nothing else. So, we ordered her a side of fries and a chocolate milk. I know, great parenting, huh? They charged us $3 for the milk and $5 for a side of fries. $8 for fries and milk? So, when the bill came we started looking that this thing, they had charged us $9 in extras for french fries. For cold, unsalted french fries. The bill totaled almost $50 for three people to order sandwiches and a 4 yr old to order a side of fries. We drove an hour to try this place because of the great reviews but I can tell you this was our first and last trip to Hempen HIll BBQ.
(2)Angela T.
Wonderful food and outstanding service by John H! He was very knowledgeable. We will be back!
(5)Denise A.
Best BBQ ever! I love the smoked flavor, awesome brisket and pulled pork. My favorite is the fried smoking wings, so flavorful! The staff is very friendly too with quick service.
(5)Jose l M.
My husband and I went in there yesterday because we wanted to try their stupid hot wings. We had heard people raving about them. Problem was we couldn't seem to get waited on. When we entered a sign said service at the bar so we went to the bar and the bartender said she was there alone. We asked if we could sit at a table and she said sure but it would be a minute to clear it off. So in the meantime two other sets of people came in, sat down, and were given menus and water. We were still standing there waiting for our table. The bartender had said she was the only server but there was another man serving the others as well, just not us. We kept being ignored so finally we just left! We ended up spending our money at Il Castello an Italian restaurant and we were treated well and happy with the service and food . We can't help but wonder if we were ignored at Hempen Hill because of my husband's Latin looks! What good is it to have good food if the service is horrible !? Also, this is not the first time I've had poor service there I'm not sure if this place deserves even one star !
(1)Dave B.
Very good food and excellent atmosphere. The smoky mac and cheese was the best I've ever tasted! The Cole slaw left a lot to be desired. The pulled pork was excellent. Moist, tender and smoky. The house made sausage was delicious! The house made sauces were great compliments to the meat as well. We will definitely being heading here again in the near future!
(4)Jim B.
A very disappointing meal from start to finish. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because the wait staff was very good. Maybe it's my southern heritage rearing it's ugly head but I do not expect to need a steak knife to eat BarBQue. The whole idea behind BarBQue is to start with a cheap cut of meat and cook it until the cartilage melts and the meat is fall apart tender. Well, this place has the cheap piece of meat part down but not the low and slow part. The "Texas beef" as they called it was very tough and sinewy. Impossible to eat on a sandwich. Not much better pulled off the bun and put on the plate. It was actually hard to cut with the knife and fork they gave me and THAT AIN'T RIGHT. The smoky Mac and cheese was good and the sauces were good, sweet and vinegary, but skip the "spicy hot" because it is neither spicy nor hot. The sweet potato pie...not so much. I guess they are more about the live music selling beers than they are about the food. Too bad.
(2)Del T.
We ordered takeout from them and it was delicious. A little pricey if you're looking for a pizza/chinese sort of takeout experience, but worth the money if you're jonsing for BBQ. The sweet potato fries were both tasty and abundant. We had ribs, and pulled pork, and other southern BBQ staples, and we all were more than satisfied with their look and taste. Delivery time was acceptable (a little on the long side, but worth the wait), and the delivery person was friendly and professional.
(5)Tony R.
Stopped for lunch Very good menu Crab cakes sandwich with sweet potatoes fries amazing If I am in the neighborhood will try to enjoy the place again
(5)Katherine D.
Sadly, the only place in town for BBQ other than a summertime BBQ shack at the end of the Dual Highway (not very good). Sweet potato fries are outstanding! The crab bisque is fantastic as well. The BBQ is good but not the best I've ever had. However, for driving by this restaurant almost everyday, we rarely go due to the extremely high noise level and the overrated popularity with yuppies and wanna-be counterculture types. It's definitely not an intimate setting, not a good date place, or a great place for families. They have bands on weekends which makes it almost impossible to carry on a conversation with a dining partner. Hempen Hill has a whole sub-culture that is very "cliquish." It revolves around hippies drinking microbrews and celebrating 4:20 which makes this restaurant very popular in Hagerstown. It is always busy, takes too long to get your food, service is lacking unless you are a regular, and there's often events going on during the day which interfere with the dining experience. In my opinion, it's overrated and overpriced. You can just as easily find the same quality food in some of the higher-end downtown restaurants where you can enjoy being a tourist or have a more pleasurable meal. If you are really dying to try their BBQ, call in and place an order to go. Allow extra time above the time they suggest you pick up. Enjoy the food in the privacy and quietness of your home.
(2)A. C.
(09/25/2013) Had to be out in Hagerstown for work and stopped by for a late lunch during the week. Only one bartender/server was working the bar area and he had his work cut out for him. Had a native North Carolinian with us, and he was skeptical of the NC-style pulled pork sandwich (on a brioche roll, BRIOCHE??!!); meat was tender but strangely mushy, brisket was somewhat dry and tough. Pork ribs had a nice smoke ring and good char (the best of the meats we tried). Sauces were nothing to speak of, had a variety of original, honey and hot 'n' spicy (which was not at all). Side of potato salad was strange cubes dressed with white vinegar, white onions, mayo and lots of celery seed; side of "Smokey" mac 'n' cheese was the baked kind, used penne, not much smoke, pretty solid mass. Best side was the housemade kettle chips. The Alamo sandwich looked good, but wan (could benefit from some grilling). Place looked pretty modern and shiny, somewhat sterile, probably packs in a younger crowd at happy hour and weekends (looked like a partying kind of crowd, BTW happy hour starts at 4:20 pm).
(3)Greg S.
Rolled in for lunch and was seated in the bar area. BTW there seems to be a lot of mid day drinking in Hagerstown : ) I like quick service, but the food was at the table in less then 5 minutes. Which in this case seemed too quick almost like the food was waiting under a heat lamp to be ordered. The BBQ was good not great, nothing special with the sauces either. Overall nice place and I would likely return.
(4)Bryan P.
Simply outstanding. Beans pretty spicy. Wonder what that's gonna feel like while driving back to Pittsburgh this afternoon. I notice they have a 36 ounce BBQ Beef/Pork sandwich with onions, peppers cole slaw and fries for $35. I understand this was featured on man VS. food. Finish in 45 minutes, you get a T-shirt. Great place!
(5)J B.
It was past 9:00 pm on a weeknight and I didn't want to get stuck ordering pizza from the hotel yet again (travel tip: plan ahead!). So I yelped for a restaurant open late and thank goodness I found this gem. OMG! I thought I would have to rate this great find because of the unbelievably brilliant beef brisket, the ridiculously perfect ribs, the ocean fresh shrimp, and the amazing mac n cheese. Then I had dessert. Never ever ever EVER have I fulfilled my peanut butter and chocolate passion so completely and blissfully. THANK YOU Hempen Hill! I asked for the recipe and promised to rave about this place back home in Toronto, but alas I will have to go back to Hagerstown just to dine here again. Live music, great beer, super friendly servers, but best of all, freakin' awesome food.
(5)Ekim E.
I ate here January 15th, 2014. While the service, mac & cheese and sweet potato muffens were good, the bbq was average. I will not go out of my way to eat here again.
(2)B S.
My favorite restaurant in the Hagerstown/Martinsburg area. Great meats and sandwiches. Very good craft beer selection. Service is usually quicker at the bar area, which is why my wife and I sit there almost exclusively. Table service can be a bit less than perfect, but still better than the vast majority of places.
(5)Felicia K.
Stopped here for a late lunch/snack... we got the BBQ chicken quesadillas, smoked tofu green salad (wanted tuna, but they were out of it), and a side of baked beans. The quesadillas stole the show, especially with three different types of BBQ sauce available for dipping. Salad was OK; kind of disappointed by the tofu. I've had BBQed or smoked tofu in the past that was much more flavorful. This stuff just tasted like... tofu. Baked beans were good. My review may have swung towards only 3 stars, but the service was so friendly and prompt that I have to give 4 stars. Nice enough atmosphere and a good selection of beers help to secure that rating.
(4)Linda A.
Best barbecue! We were traveling and found this place on Yelp. We will definitely go again when in area. Chicken wings were a 10 as well as ribs! Service was excellent!
(5)Maryellen S.
Went there on a Saturday night, around 7:00 pm. Walked in to a half-empty restaurant and was told there would be an hour and 45 minute wait for a party of 2. Was not given the option to sit at the bar, but was given a business card and told that we should make reservations in the future. The business card went directly into the trash.
(1)Bridget M.
Delicious food and a great place for vegetarian options, despite being known as a BBQ place... friendly service and a decent draft beer selection! Live music on the weekends is always a plus. One of Hagerstown's best for sure!
(4)Stinging B.
We went back to Hempen Hill a few weeks ago. It was a Tuesday night and the place was packed. We really liked the food the last time and were looking forward to another great meal. The food again, was very good. Unfortunately, this time we noticed the surroundings a little better. This restaurant is really filthy. The chair cushions are absolutley covered in grime and greasy stains. Most of the chairs are wobbly and on the verge of collapse. The tables, although freshly wiped, have a layer of sticky grime. The condiment bottles are dripping with sauce and feel kind of greasy. This restaurant needs a GOOD scrubbing before we go back. I can only imagine that if the front of the house is this unkempt, the kitchen must be a disaster...if not a health hazard. Too bad. The food is still plentiful and tasty...but you'll lose your appetite the moment you're seated.
(3)Ashley C.
I've tried numerous items on the menu, but I have to say the wings are my favorite! Nothing like the taste of their smoked meats. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Dean L.
love the sauce
(5)Brian C.
I am from Ga. ,and am starting to doubt whether any one north of North Carolina know how to smoke ribs. Warning folks, If your ribs are served with a knife outside of Holiday Inn,they don't know what they are doing.The ribs had a good smoke flavor,but you could pull the bone between two ribs,and the bone pulled out leaving the rack boneless instead of seperating the ribs.The macaroni and cheese was awesome.My server was lack luster more intent on socializing with friends than serving me. All in all 33.00 for a whole rack of barely edible ribs,and a sprite is way too much. I would like to try their pork,and stew.
(2)Jeremy K.
You guys are normally awesome. I stop by a couple times a month. Your grub and beer list is normally amazing. Tonight I stopped by, spur of the moment. Thursday night no reservation was told 20 min wait, seated in just a little over 5. Awesome! It's American Craft Brew week. I was so excited to see what you had. Draft menus even advertised as such. Looked at the list in disbelief. Your draft list on a regular week is better with more to choose from. 1. Beer comes in pints. As in volume. It's awesome that you guys serve each style in its appropriate glass. But by volume, it should be a pints worth. Don't fill up your draft list with 8oz pours at 20 oz prices. 2. Half your drafts tonight were 8oz pours. So see note one. 3. A quarter were 10oz pours. Again see note 1. 4. The remaining 5 beers or so were regular pints. But yuengling and a coors product for American Craft Brew Week? Had to order a bottled beer I love a great tasting beer and amazing BBQ but I'm not paying for a full glass of beer but only getting a sampler size served.
(1)Rances M.
Passing through Hagerstown for the day and spotted the yelp rating. I was interested in some BBQ so I figured I would check it out. The place was huge. Lots of tvs and beers so the bar and vibe seemed like it'd be a good spot to enjoy a drink or two. I was having lunch on a thursday. The place was relatively busy yet there was essentially one server. That was a disappointment, and the only disappointment. Food- I had the Beef Pit sandwich which was solid in terms of flavor yet very very tender and an extremely large serving. My friend had the smoked chicken and that was SPECTACULAR. About as moist and falvorful as you could make a pulled smoked chicken. It was terrific and the main reason why I will definitely be making a return visit. Above average bbq with a good return on investment. Thumbs up.
(4)Ross G.
We visited Hempen Hill yet again on Friday (11/11/11) and while sitting at the bar had a good meal and good service! Yeah! The food here is pretty consistent and usually good! The service has always been the stumbling point for us and after some really bad service experiences (older waitress) we have taken an extended break from HH. When we are lucky - we get Jessica a young waitress who is friendly, personable, and very efficient! Definitely highly recommended!
(4)D W.
I had the yard-bird with baked beans and veggies. Food was fair. I think this restaurant is known for their pull-pork, so I may revisit to try that particular dish. My next visit will determine if this restaurant is a "keeper".
(3)Frank G.
Problem: Out-of-towners tired and hungry after a day of outlet mall shopping. Solution: Beer and BBQ, and lots of it. Enter Hempen Hill. Entirely unfamiliar with Hagerstown, I wasn't expecting much.... but boy, were we surprised. The "Crab Chip" appetizer is redonkulous. It's like nachos -- but with homemade kettle-cooked potato chips covered in crap dip, melted cheese, scallions, and Old Bay. There was a sparse sprinkling of fresh tomatoes too, but they seemed like an afterthought. Replacing them with bacon would have been killer. Hempen Hill, YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. :-) Our entrees were quite good, I'd give them a 3.5 overall. My wife's brisket was so tender the steak knife delivered with it was entirely unnecessary. My pit beef cheese steak was good too; the beef was a little dry, but it had great flavor, so it balanced out. The side dishes -- sweet potato fries, coleslaw, and smoky mac & cheese -- were real winners, a cut above what you find most other places. Great draft beer selection. They have Fat Tire! Woo hoo! The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. I usually tip on the high end, but I stuck with a straight 15% here. The waitress was friendly enough, but slow; by the time I got my second beer, I was nearly done with my dinner (and I was pacing myself). We were there around 5pm, so it's not like the place was crowded. If the four star review didn't make it obvious, we would return next time we're in the Hagerstown area.
(4)Jeff B.
Probably the best restaurant in Hagerstown and some of the best BBQ I've had outside of the south. Yes, I know it isn't up to southern standards, but what is? Hempen Hill tends towards the more upscale side of the BBQ spectrum, so the prices are higher than one might expect. The service can be slow at times, but the food makes up for it. I don't get up to Hagerstown very often anymore, but if I did make it up, I would definitely stop at Hempen Hill for lunch.
(4)Amy S.
Very good BBQ! The cheesesteak was fantastic and the original BBQ sauce is soooo good! The crab bisque is awesome too. Not too sure about the Mac n Cheese, as I'm a little iffy on the smokiness of it, but it's a very popular item there. My friend got the fish tacos and she was impressed (although she said she'd prefer them without the corn and beans. I'll definitely be back, especially for the fantastic BBQ sauce!!!
(4)Chad W.
I appreciate the intro that the owners have given. For that, I'm giving you an extra star. Not enough owners take Yelp pride... I've only been here for lunch. It's probably a fun bar, and they've won ~243 awards for just about everything.* I haven't tried the BBQ yet, so maybe I'm missing out. I would categorize this place as a restaurant/bar more than a BBQ bar...when I hear BBQ, I think of chubby southerners(no offense to chubby southerners) that serve corn, beans, and a bunch of smoked/pulled/BBQ'd etc. The last two menu items I've ordered seemed more like bar fare than anything else, and the menu seems to have lots of options outside of BBQ. They do have good sweet potato fries...I'd like to know how you get them so crispy! Overall, worth stopping by and seeing the award list and giving something a try. Someday I'll stop in during the evenings and order a beer or two; seems to be an okay draft list. * exaggeration, but they have a whole board dedicated to the awards they've won...
(4)Rusty S.
Hot food, cold beer, excellent service and atmosphere. Best restaurant in Hagerstown.
(5)Eric H.
Best beer and food menus in Hagerstown. Reasonable prices and big portions. Love the smoked wings. HH is ma favorite!!!
(5)Nicole A.
We go to hempen hill fairly regularly, and service makes a big difference. If the food comes out fresh it is consistently good, but too many times it sits and then by the time we get it its cold and soggy. When that happens the servers are also never around to send it back and we finally just give up and eat what we can (often while also going thirsty). For this reason we don't go quite as often anymore. I would recommend sitting at the bar. The food is generally much fresher when we do. The feel the briez used to be my favorite although I don't really like the new bread now. Pulled pork and brisket are good choices and I really like the sweet potato fries! Also the steaks are good on Thursday nights! Overall a nice place to sit at the bar for some good food and nice beers on tap. Probably would rate this 3.5 if I could but I'll give the extra star because when it is good it is good.
(4)Adam D.
I wish you could give 6 star reviews this place is amazing!!! The food is second to none service is fast and friendly the specials are always creative and very we'll done. The only problem with Hempin Hill is that every body is now figuring this out and it's hard to get a table so make a reservation if you can. Beer selections are always up to the standards of any beer snob MUST TRY!!
(5)JenniLynn H.
I crave the smoked turkey stack on a regular basis. The crab bisque and crab nachos are to die for. And you wouldn't expect this from a BBQ joint, but they have the best vegetarian/vegan options in town. And the beer prices! I'm truthfully not a fan of any of their BBQ meats with the exception of the sliced brisket - that stuff is the bomb! Definitely worth a go.
(4)Shelley M.
The service here is mediocre at best. The hostess is hardly friendly and the waiters/waitresses always seem irritated at having to do their job. Why do I return every other week or so? The fish tacos are outstanding and the atmosphere is good which keeps me coming back to Hempen Hill.
(3)Alice G.
I often daydream about their smoked tofu and I wish that I could eat it every day. It makes me feel like a 6 year old beauty queen on "Toddlers & Tiaras." It's my go go juice and it's gonna help me win, honey boo boo child!
(5)Alicia N.
I took my parents in September and I got the crab bisque... It's the best I've had in Maryland. I've been back twice more for just the bisque! The kettle chips rock too! The only thing I have been disappointed by was the Bloody Mary, just a little too much Worsteschire sauce in it but I do appreciate that the mix is made in-house. My husband and I can't wait to try more!
(5)Krystal D.
There's really not much to say about this place that hasn't said before. The food is spot-on. The service, however, is shoddy. The boyfriend and I wanted to sample a few things, so we ordered the "Nothing but Meat" quad dish and their famous Chorizo burger. To be honest, I don't get the hype around the chorizo burger. Is it good? Sure. Is it anything special? Not even close. You'll be much happier if you stick with the BBQ options. For our platter we chose the sausage, ribs, pit beef, and sliced brisket. Everything was moist and flavorful...and that's before we added the BBQ sauce. The BF was in high heaven drenching everything in their sweet-style BBQ. I thought the meat was better without any additional sauce. As our sides we ha the garden salad (nothing special) and crab bisque (really, really good). Overall, great experience if you can overlook cranky servers.
(4)Teri M.
Thank heavens for BBQ! I hail from Texas and I'm so picky about my BBQ it's ridiculous. Thankfully, they had a Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy to start me off I shared a mega plate of 4 different kinds of meat with my friend. We got the brisket, the pulled pork, the sausage and the sliced beef. I'm going to go ahead and tell you that I am insane about brisket...it's supposed to be so tender, your fork melts through it and there is no stringiness whatsoever. This is only accomplished if you smoke it slow for at least 16 hours. Not everyone has that kind of time, so the brisket at Hempen Hill was a bit on the stringy side, but it was SO close to that turning point, I can't complain at all. The sauces on the table were fun and I went with the original (I think) and smothered my meat in it. It was great. My friend liked the sliced beef the best. The pork was so-so and the sausage was meh. The clear winner here was the beef, brisket or sliced. The sweet potato fries were pleasing as well. Good beer, good BBQ, I left full and my tastebuds got their fix. Happy. I would absolutely return and recommend this place to others. It was a large enough space that I don't see a problem bringing kids here, if you're so inclined to bring them! The bar is toward the back of the place.
(4)Steve K.
Had Nothin' But Meat platter to try the ribs (Excellent), Pulled Pork (Good), Sliced Brisket (Very Good), and Sausage (Very Good). Smoked Mac and Cheese was excellent as was the cole slaw. Explosion cake was good. I would definitely recommend Hempen Hill for BBQ lovers. I am very particular and was very pleased overall. Their ribs are as good as any that I can make. Staff was very attentive. Visited on a Saturday night and the music was an added bonus. All in all, a great experience!
(5)Pat M.
Great beer, bad food, awful service. Bar-b-que was salty, pasta mushy but the real problem was the server. On a quiet weeknight in took twenty minutes to get one soda and and one beer, which she served in the can, and another twenty minutes and two reminders to get a glass to pour it into. Food took over an hour to arrive and order was wrong. When I told the hostess about my concerns she argued with me! We were underwhelmed the first time we went to Hempen Hill. Now it's more shock and disgust.
(1)Kristina P.
We thought we were in for a treat, an for most part the adult food was OK (nothing extraordinary). However, we ordered the children's hamburgers, cooked well, and they came charred black. The taste was horrible, they were super dry and burned, and when we complained to the server he didn't even apologize. Needless to say, no tip and no stars. Choose a different place folks!
(1)Justine G.
This place is awesome! Everything I've eaten here was well-thought-out, prepared correctly, and left me with something to think about! The Summer special tacos are my favorite and so delicious! The remoulade sauce tastes of mustard, horseradish, and has a mexican kick to it! The sweet potato fries are extra crispy and the savory fried mushroom appetizer is unique and extraordinary! For vegetarians, you are in luck! The "vicken" ravioli has a tasty chicken-type meat served with big ravioli and a chunky sauce. The service can be slow when the place is packed--which it usually is! So be patient, and it will be worth the wait!
(5)Aaron C.
I like to eat here for lunch every now and then, as it is literally a minute from away from where I work. The service is a little slow during the lunch hours, but it seems like they have more staff during the dinner hours. I occasionally go here with co-workers after work on Friday and I am pleased to say as a beer snob that this place has a great selection of craft brews if you're into that kind of thing. I've tried a lot of things on the menu and most of it is really good but the one item I keep coming back for time and time again has to be the BBQ chef salad. Yeah, I know, a salad, but seriously, this is the salad from hell for vegetarians! Yes, there is a small bit of the obligatory lettuce, onions, tomatoes and some other veggies whose name escapes me at the moment, so technically it has to be classified as a salad, but beyond that it is all succulent payload of pit beef, pulled pork BBQ, and roasted chicken. Do yourself a favor: skip the traditional salad dressing completely and just slather the whole mess with your choice of BBQ sauce. Which reminds me, they have a sauce called "stupid hot" and it honestly is pretty hot, which I appreciate. Too often various establishments advertise their sauces as "nuclear" or "suicide" or whatever when they are in fact quite impotent to the true heat lover. If you like it hot, try the "stupid hot" sauce, it will get the tears and endorphins flowing
(4)Lewis C.
great bbq.
(4)R S.
The fish tacos are a great choice. The sea bass was "delish". The service was good. The best part was the pumpkin ale, peanut butter chocolate desert and coconut cream pie! Go now!
(4)Carrie S.
Stopped on our way home from a ski weekend in PA, based on the Yelp reviews. Really delicious barbecue, interesting kids menu with good choice of entrees and healthy sides, good Brunswick stew, nice and casual atmosphere. Good service. Side salad was fresh and tasty. Will definitely stop again when going near Hagerstown.
(5)Tim K.
Friendly bartender, reasonable beer prices, generous portions and quick service. This place is great.
(5)Dave S.
My favorite place to eat, lunch and dinner. Great appitizers, their award winning kettle crab chips are awesome. Their claim is upscale BBQ, you can get traditional BBQ meals as well as one of a kind culinary dishes. Larg beer selection with local breweries, great wing selection With saucses you won't find around town, live music every Satuday night. Voted number 1 in Hagerstowns Hot List in 12 catigories.
(5)Natasha W.
Good food at reasonable prices. I have only eaten the vegetarian and chicken dishes, and all were excellent! I applaud a small town restaurant for serving "Vicken" (veggie chicken) and having vegetable panini's, especially a BBQ rest. Try the sweet potato fries, yum!
(4)Gonzo J.
Great food. Lots of beer. Always a pleasure to eat here.
(5)Misty Y.
I am super picky about my BBQ - I grew up in SC with one of the town's best BBQ joints in walking distance :) So I was interested in trying the pulled pork with sweet tea. I had to get the pulled pork sandwich as I didn't see a pulled pork meal. The pork is made in a vinegar/seasoning baste just to keep it moist. This is good in my book as I prefer a vinegar/BBQ sauce mixture. They provide multiple sauces so you can make it yourself, which is also good as taste preferences vary. The pork was good with little fatty globs - more fat is a sign of a cheap cut of meat. I had the mac and cheese as a side. This is also something I am super picky about :) It was good but not the best I have had. The smoky flavor was an interesting twist and cheesiness was not lacking. I sat at the bar, there were a few other people sitting there with one bartender (odd hour between lunch and dinner). He was friendly and answered my questions regarding how the BBQ was prepared accurately. It took a little bit of time to get my check after I was done - he appeared to be doing some side work that was taking his attention. All in all, great food with OK service, I would come back.
(4)Mike P.
Mmmmm...Good!!! Been going to this place for a couple years now and finally getting around to a review. I have not had a bad meal or a bad beer at this place yet. Fun, inviting atmosphere, and I love the wings. Definately check them out on a weekend for some decent local music, or on Wednesday night for cheap wings and discounted Yings. Jen is in love with the smokey mac and cheese and we almost always take home a peanut butter and chocolate ooey gooey which are made fresh. Expect to spend a couple bucks if you plan on having a few beers, but there are few places in the area I'd rather spend my money. Best bet for my money would be to come with another couple, order 2 apps, a few beers, 4 different meals and share!!!
(5)Mary H.
Stumbled on this place when passing through. Food was very good! Had NC pulled pork & turkey brie. Also used 10% off coupon from yelp. Will def come back.
(4)Lindsey H.
Wing and Yueng night is the absolute best.
(5)Andrea G.
AWESOME. I was TDY in the area for a week and ate here 4 times. Excellent lunch spot, even better dinner spot. The beer was ice cold and they offered a good selection of microbrews. GREAT service every time. From the BBQ to the seafood to the fresh salads... everything was great quality and yummy. I wasn't a huge fan of the glazed wings but everything else was spot on. Try the shredded BBQ pork.
(5)Daniel O.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Hagerstown. My wife and I have loved nearly everything we've ordered here. The smokey mac and cheese is absolutely incredible. They have a great selection of draft beer, too. However...as others have mentioned, the service can be terrible. It seems like every time we go we have to wait a ridiculous amount of time for drinks and the check. Recently, we were seated at a table and it took 10 minutes for our waitress to even acknowledge us. But the food...it more than makes up for the service.
(4)Donna H.
This place opened a short time before we moved out of state but we were able to enjoy a few meals there before we headed west. The BBQ, spicy crab soup and crab cakes are among our favorite things here, and we like the laid-back amibence. On a Christmas holiday visit back East a few years ago, we decided to host a get-together in their private room for about 20 of our Hagerstown-area friends, with everyone ordering from the menu. Since we were by then living in Southern California, we made all of the arrangements by e-mail and everything came off flawlessly. The food was delicious, the service was excellent and the price was very reasonable. Since then, we try to stop here on visits "back home" whenever possible. This is one of our favorite restaurants in the Hagerstown area, and their many awards are well-deserved!
(5)DC R.
I went here with a few coworkers on Saturday evening (around 7pm). The place was not busy at all, but we waited a very long time for someone to come and take our drink orders (at least 15 minutes). When the waitress finally came and took our orders, we again waited quite a long time to get our drinks. Then we ordered. It took at least an hour to get our food, and when mine came out, parts of my order were forgotten. Since I really didn't feel like waiting 40 minutes for soup, I decided to let it go. I was mostly disappointed with the food, I have definitely had way better bbq. After leaving, I discovered they charged my credit card twice for my check... Needless to say, I don't plan on returning.
(1)Jeanie G.
I have been going to this restuarant for four years now. The food is really awesome! Very creative menu and great beer selection! They even update with a summer, fall, and spring menu usually every year but always keep the favorites! The only downfall to this restuarant is the service. The waitresses are known for having a "not so nice" attitude, but I have to admit it has gotten a lot better recently! The staff seems newly updated and a lot of the best waitresses are still there. Also the front manager is one of the nicest people I've ever met! He is very accomodating and sweet!
(4)Monika M.
this is my favorite place to eat in hagerstown (other than my own kitchen!). disclaimer: i don't eat meat so i've never had the bbq but everything else is FABULOUS - the best crab cakes i've ever had, anywhere; crab nachos - i'm sure these are served in heaven; sweet potato fries; etc. i so miss the portobello panini and i hope they bring it back some day. my kids love the pork bbq, ribs, and smoky mac & cheese. great atmosphere, great food, great service. can't ask for much more! love!
(5)Rick A.
one of the best smoked BBQ pit restaurant we've eatin at,
(5)Ed W.
Great bar BBQ much closer to my home than others. Great pulled pork. Nice atmosphere with a micro-brewery on the side. The guys I was with tried some of the home brews and all were very happy. Highly recommended.
(5)Tami D.
Excellent food! The atmosphere is really cool - like an urban BBQ joint and fun music. Try the Brunswick stew and the sweet potato fries. Yummy! And make sure to ask for Debra as your waitress. She is the best! She really cares about her customers and makes sure your eating experience is great! And great BBQ!
(5)Kristi B.
This place is great! My husband and I kept driving past it, but we never stopped because he's a vegetarian and we thought there was no way a BBQ place would have anything he could eat. We were so wrong! They probably have the best selection of interesting, well-prepared vegetarian options in the area. That's saying a lot, since my husband is a very picky veggie. The Texas brisket (which I got) was great too, so tender I didn't even need a knife. I think we'll be regulars there.
(5)Heather M.
Great food and great prices! HHBBQ offers unique dishes and flavorful BBQ. Everything I have eaten (multiple visits) has been delicious.
(5)Ronnie K.
There is a reason so many people love this place, it is the BEST barbecue you can get get in the tri state area. Great portions and everything is outstanding! Worth the drive and price everytime!
(5)Mickey C.
slow service, arrived at 1130 AM one other couple there, and served at 1220...we almost left. Wife ordered pulled pork I ordered Texas brisket. French Fries were 2 bucks more and not included in the sides?? Cole slaw and potato salad were excellent. Pulled pork like mix of ground and pulled, but ok in moistness. Sauces were excellent. Texas brisket was dry, hard, and smokeless. I realized after we left that there was no "smoke smell" in or around the restaurant. Restaurant had a feel of a bar/band atmosphere with music inappropriate for a BBQ place with break dance music! I just wanted to break out my Afro and baggy pance and dance! Horrible, too load music. We won't go back and recommend that you avoid..
(2)Vincent G.
Was expecting much better. Sauces were just plain. Tried the trio meat, brisket, pulled pork, ribs. All come without sauce. The brisket was extremely fatty, pulled pork was watery and mushy, and ribs were good....just wish they had BBQ on them while cooking. Gf got scallop dish and it was awful. Guess that's what she gets for ordering scallops at a BBQ joint. Nothing great about this place just OK.
(3)christy m.
My grandfather who is 90 and lives in Hagerstown loves folk music/blue grass - so I made reservations at Hempen Hill for 9 over the Tgiving holiday weekend - the band that was booked Fox Run or something like that was supposed to be good and I actually listened to their music on line. Well the evening was a disaster. Unpleasant service, average food - not great bbq and when we finally left at 9:15 the band - which was supposed to start at 8:30 still hadn't started but was standing around having beers and ordering dinner. Never again.
(1)Nate K.
Great food and good beer selection. I ordered a quarter chicken, sweet potato, and fiesta rice. Everything was great and the price was reasonable. The interior helps you forget that you are in a mini strip mall... I plan on returning again.
(5)Danielle P.
My boyfriend and I go here for the great barbecue. I've had a little of everything and haven't been disappointed at all. The shrimp and grits are amazing! He loves the baked mac n cheese and brisket. They tend to be a bit heavy handed behind the bar as I'm not a drinker. The wait staff are great, very helpful and knowledgeable. The do take reservations and I recommend you do so.
(4)Jamie B.
Oh dear! What once was a great place to eat no matter if you liked BBQ or if you are vegetarian has taken a big fall. Uninspired appetizers that could be found in the freezer section of Walmart. My mother in law's tacos could easily have been not properly defrosted! To baked potatoes that seem to have been cooked in the microwave... What the hell happened? A new chef is the answer! Seems s/he are lazy & lack the desire to impress. I mean smoky Mac & Cheese should have some smoke to them! Not just taste of valvetta or whatever they call that non cheese stuff. Brisket? Should have been sent to the rendering plant. Sorry we won't be back, which is a shame as you used to be up there...
(2)Carlos S.
We've come here for date night a few times and the ambiance is always up and active. The food, as always so far, was fantastic.
(4)Stacie C.
During a two day venture back to Maryland over the summer, I went in search of some BBQ to enjoy before a Hagerstown Suns game. Hempen Hill showed up and I couldn't look away. The pictures I saw and the menu were calling to me. I couldn't wait to check it out. I was surprised to find Hempen Hill BBQ in a strip mall, but hey, some of the best places are. I was greeted and immediately seated at a table for two since the bar was full and I was dining solo. I timed it just right as shortly after my arrival people were waiting for tables. And if I recall, this was a Wednesday evening, not a weekend. Clearly this place is a local favorite. After looking over my options (and crying over the daily specials I wasn't around for like burnt ends Tuesdays), I decided on the two meats platter with pit beef and pulled brisket alongside cole slaw and smoked mac n cheese. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it. The meat was tender and flavorful. The cole slaw went well with the meats. And wowza is all I can say about that smoked mac n cheese. Service was good for the most part, though waiting for my check seemed to take some time. I forgave, though, because my waitress seemed to be training as well as helping the hostess and I still made it to the baseball game before first pitch.
(4)Jenny L.
10.20.14 Disclaimer: I'm not a huge fan of BBQ. We were visiting a friend, who insisted on eating here. So we obliged. I was, however, very happy with their service and beer selection (not to mention the price)! We started with a heaping plate of crab chips, and I ordered a quarter dark BBQ yard bird (which comes with two sides) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hemp… ). The restaurant was clean, the food came out quickly, and the waitress was attentive. Fan. Total damage for three: $83
(4)Dante W.
Outstanding BBQ!!! I always get the Carolina pulled pork. The wife has her favorites also. Fast service, even if the place is packed. Excellent beer selection also.
(5)Alice E.
The sandwiches are mouth-watering, the BBQ is delicious, and the vegetarian options are a welcome surprise. Great, rotating beer selection and a full bar. What more could you want?! If you haven't tried Hempen Hill yet, you should.
(5)Barbara H.
Great variety! Love the pistachios and roasted onion dressing for the spinach salad. Husband loved the smoked wings
(5)Rhonda B.
Great service!! Pretty amazing food! Definitely loved the crab chips and the Cole slaw! Everything that was ordered in our party was loved! Good prices and great atmosphere!!!
(4)Lauren M.
Hempen Hill has the best barbecue you will find in Hagerstown. However, there service is lacking big time. Let's start with the positive. The food. I usually keep it simple with their pulled pork. You can never go wrong with ordering it. It's smokey, moist, and piled high. The portions are favorable, as I struggle to finish even the pulled pork sandwich. My favorite sides are the sweet potato fries and the smokey mac n cheese. I've tried other items on the menu, but those are definitely my recommendations and go-to choices. The restaurant is large and lively. There are plenty of tables, drinks, appetizers, and music. It's a good spot for larger groups to just meet up and hang out. Just be warned, this type of environment can get loud. But in a place like this, that is part of the fun. So, what's wrong? Let me explain. - Twenty minute wait, no problem. - Twenty minute wait when a quarter of the restaurant is empty for reservations, irritating. - Waiting twenty minutes, being seated, and then being told you have to finish your meal by 8pm, INFURIATING! It is incredibly rude to tell a customer that they have to finish their meal by a certain time to accommodate another customer's reservation. The hostess not only gave us a timeline, but also did the same to other tables around us. If you want me out by 8pm, have excellent service, fill my belly, and give me my check by 7:50. Then, maybe, if I'm ready, I will go. It really is a shame, because the food is great! The service just needs a wake-up call. I did not feel like a valued customer and in fact, would have left, if my friend wasn't complaining about being hungry. Fix this, Hempen Hill!
(2)Corinne M.
Hempen Hill is probably one of the best places in Hagerstown. Usually, if it's not McDonald's or a Chinese Buffet, it doesn't last in this rinky-dink town. Hempen Hill has stood the test of time, though. It's been around for a good couple of years, and with good reason - the food is freaking delicious. There isn't really anything on the menu that I would down-vote or suggest to NOT get. Crab Chips are like the best appetizer ever. If you're feeling BBQ, go for the pulled pork or mixed plate. For sandwiches, the Chorizo Burger (featured on Regis & Kelly) and Feel the Briez are amazing. The cole slaw is a great side (and I'm not usually a fan of cole slaw), but the sweet potato fries steal the show. They have this awesome seasoning on them, a mix of cinnamon and something spicy (I want to say cayenne pepper?). They're fried to a crisp...just...so good. The smoked mac & cheese is fantastic, too. It is really loud in here, considering it's a bar. There is usually a wait, so either come early or be prepared (not sure if they take reservations). The bar has a very wide selection of beers that I've never really seen anywhere else offered in Hagerstown. The bar side also has some TVs for sports viewing pleasure.
(5)