Captain Benders Tavern
111 E Main St, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Captain Benders Tavern Menu
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Address :
111 E Main St
Sharpsburg, MD, 21782 - Phone (301) 432-5813
- Website https://www.captainbenders.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Susan W.
Fun beer, but most of the bartenders and servers are distracted with their own conversation and the t.v. The food is fair to bad. The location and history are it's only redeeming factors. Unfortunately this is Sharpsburg's best bar. You are better off driving three miles to the west and hitting Shepherdstown.
(2)Kit D.
Our family wanted to take a quick lunch break during our Antietam tour, so Bender's was our one option unless we wanted to feast on ice cream. (Note to readers: are you thinking of opening a small restaurant and catering to a lunch crowd of Civil War interested tourists? There is an open market for such a place in Sharpsburg, MD). "How bad could bar food be in the middle of the day?", we reasoned. Yelp reviews claimed the burgers were great! Despite open front and back doors that encouraged a cross breeze, as we entered we encountered stale cigarette air from the 70s. "We'll be fast", we reasoned further; "The burgers will be good, at least." Once we passed the 8 or so patrons at the bar (who were partial to Michelob Ultra and Bud Light, judging by their empties), we seated ourselves at a table in the back. That was a mistake, as we then watched a parade of people pass by to the restrooms and/or back entrance to smoke. We quickly discovered the bar's smaller patrons: dozens of buzzing flies. Please note, this is no exaggeration: the flies were having their own bender at Bender's. No children's menu was another harbinger of the doom to come, but again we reasoned that as the only restaurant in town, they must be used to kids there for lunch. (Two other families with kids entered during our meal: ready to set up a hot dog stand yet?). In the end, the kids ordered burgers, which were burnt hockey pucks by the time they made it to our table. Others ordered the grilled chicken sandwich (nicely grilled and seasoned, I'll give them that) and the crab cake sandwich (also recommended on Yelp; we give it a resounding "meh"). Service was fast and friendly, which was good because the flies attacked our food over and over and over again. You did read the part where I mentioned the flies, yes? We could not leave there fast enough. $60 for a mediocre lunch (no alcohol ordered). Lesson to be shared with other tourists: pack a lunch or drive the extra 10 minutes to a better place. Or walk around the corner to the ice cream shop and indulge. Just don't bother with here.
(1)T L.
this was probably our 15th trip to Captain Bender's. the menu has changed a little over the years but not that much. burgers have always been good but i think they are now over-priced. $10.75 when you add fries is too much for this dive. also i had two Magic hats drafts and was billed $12.81. wow. that is 5 star hotel bar prices. probably will return but will definitely check drink prices next time.
(3)Charles S.
Weary from reading too many explanatory plaques on the Antietam battlefield and too late to make it to Frederick before the restaurants stopped serving lunch, my wife and I stopped at Benders Tavern. You know what? It was pretty damn good. Good homemade burgers cooked the way we wanted them. Excellent fries. Good beer. Excellent service. There can't be more than a thousand people in greater metro Sharpsburg. Benders tavern was way better than I expected.
(3)Nick C.
Fantastic stop-off before Antietam. Burger and fires were both simple, but out of this world. Only real problem was me disrespectfully daydreaming about the meal while touring the battlefield.
(5)Ginger B.
I won a few gift certificates to Captain Bender's, and was excited to try out a new place for free. It took awhile for our order to be taken, but I figured, "That's OK, it's a free meal". The beers were small-ish, and cost $6 and $7, respectively. I thought, "That's ridiculous, but I have gift certificates- so no big deal." The crab dip had no crab in it, nor did the crabcakes. I actually thought the crabcake was a ball of stuffing at first, before realizing it was Old Bay-flavored. "Hell," I said to my wife, "at least this'll be free." The bill for crab dip, 2 beers, and 2 meals was $59. At a rural dive bar. "Pretty expensive for how bad it was," I thought as I laid out $75 in gift certificates. The waitress eventually comes by, and says, "Oh, the manager only accepts $25 of these at a time." I tell her, "I specifically checked the gift certificates, and it doesn't say that anywhere. I came in here assuming I could use these." She checked with the manager, who still refused to honor his own gift certificates. I angrily paid over $30 along with ONE $25 gift certificate, and thought to myself, "Well... at least I never have to come back here again."
(1)Beth S.
Food was great. Waiter was a bit of a dick, but whatever.
(2)Julie M.
Decent place considering there really wasn't much else to choose from in downtown Sharpsburg. We stopped here for lunch after during the battlefield. I had the Blindside Panini (on a wrap)....not too much flavor and plain. My husband had the hot ham and cheese sandwich on a soft pretzel which was much better than mine and my cousin had the rueben, which was pretty tasty. Overall decent place to get a bite to eat but don't expect much in way of decor.....
(3)Keith E.
My friend and I rode up to take a tour of the Antietam National Battlefield and when we were done wanted to get a bite to eat. I remember seeing this tavern in the morning and suggested that we go back there. I'm glad we did! The special they were serving at the time were 2 chili cheese dogs. We both ordered the same special with fries. I also opted for a cold house beer out of their tap. Other than a two other people at the bar this tavern was pretty quiet. No music playing in the background but several really nice tv's were turned on. The food was served and was good and hot. The chili they put on the dogs was amazing! I complimented the waitress and she mentioned to me that they had won a local chili cookoff 3 out of the past 4 years. I'm not surprised...it was really that good! We hung out for a bit...a few more folks came in and we rode on. It was a nice tavern, glad we stopped...they do have a pool table and dartboards, and a nicely decorated bier garden in the back (just past the bathrooms outside).
(4)Dave A.
A great place for good sandwiches and beer. The service was fast and friendly. Ask for the Antietam Ale.
(4)Todd S.
Went there for lunch before we hit the battlefield. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. I had an order of wings which were perfectly cooked and sauced, tasted great! I also had a a very tasty burger and washed it down with a refreshing local beer. A must try.
(5)Donna B.
Husband said the black and blue burger might be the best burger he has had. I had their all American burger, dad had the taco salad and mom the chicken cordon bleu sandwich, we were all happy with our meals. Nice local place. Burger plate was about 7.95
(4)Joe W.
Look at the effing name of this place people! How could it not be the mecca of wanton disregard? This is one of the greatest bars I've ever stumbled upon and then out of. The place is a hole in the wall, but when you're in a place that's known for a big field with a bunch of dead Yanks and Rebs, you can't be all that picky. They have a very, very friendly staff, food that does the trick, and delicious spirits. The best part is, everything is on the cheap end and they have an off-site so you can stock up on your way back to your campsite.
(5)Abby S.
Captain Bender's is a fabulous place - Mom and I ate a late lunch for $21 and change - We are full and happy! Only reason it's not 5 stars for me is it could use some aesthetic updates. I get that it's a pub, just sayin'. Got a wonderful burger - 8oz angus with cheddar, bacon and BBQ - amazing fries, a really good pickle (that totally matters) and our server was sweet - top notch. You know it's good when the server asks how you want your burger cooked! And in all my years of eating food, I've never seen beef jerky listed as a side dish. So - a great, tasty, friendly, affordable meal to refresh us after a battlefield tour. Do it.
(4)Darrell K.
If you're taking a tour of Antietam, then the closest place to eat is in the city of Sharpsburg. There isn't really too many options. But this is one of them. This old place has a very local feel where everyone seems to know each other. The menu itself is basic without much fanfare, but the sandwiches are pretty good and large. It's a small kind of divey place, but those are the places I like to go.
(3)Jason P.
Great service, very affordable. I got a burger with blue cheese and added onions and pepper jack to it--it wasn't an outstanding burger but it hit the spot. I'd go back if I was in town again.
(4)Hollie H.
We are in town for a Geocaching event and we're looking for a bite to eat after a busy day. This place was an excellent choice. We had the crab dip to start and it was fantastic. Then I had the French onion soup and the fish and chips which were also very good. My boyfriend had the Ragin' Cajun pasta which he said was delicious but it looked too spicy for me. The kid had chicken tenders, and he said they were ok. He's 6 though, and it's hard to get him to sit down and eat. In addition to the food being good, the service was excellent. The waiter was attentive without being overbearing and he was extremely kind with my little one. This isn't always the case when we go to restaurants and I was especially surprised to come across this in a pub.
(5)Mary W.
We love this place. FAMILY RUN. NICE NICE PEOPLE. The ambience is sports bar complete with several TVS on different sports channels, but at least at the times we have visited. ..noon to late afternoon/early evenibg...it's pleasantly subdued. We almost always order the excellent fish and chips. Hubs likes the variety of brews.
(5)Thomas H.
Great food. Friendly staff. Good ambiance. A pleasant place to stop, especially if in town looking at Antietam.
(4)Tim B.
Just visited again last night , fish & chips were perfect, Bleu cheese burger was also good. The best part though is the cold draft Natty Bo!
(5)Becky E.
First visit to the tavern and we will definitely be back. The service was friendly and quick. As soon as we finished our delicious cream of crab soup, our salads were served. The blackened salmon was spectacular, and the oven baked potatoes were a nice side. My husband had the prime rib which could have been more tender, but overall it was a pleasant meal experience. He said that the local favorite Antietam Ale did not disappoint! Lori was a nice waitress, but so was our Shepherd alumni football left tackle!
(4)John B.
Food is pretty decent - burgers (Black and Bleu is awesome) and fries are both really good, as are their specials typically (including their prime rib) and soups. Atmosphere is sort of a pool hall/sports bar (e.g. tacky plastic neon beer signs); unfortunately, the bar is right there with the tables, so you're intermingled with drinkers, something that's not always conducive to having kids with you. Service ranges from good to pretty bad, depending on who your server is. On our last visit, I had to ask multiple times for something I had asked for originally when I placed my order; the server finally plunked it down on my table, not uttering a word, like he was annoyed with ME! And while it wasn't the end of the world or anything, that's just one example. We used to be semi-regulars and expected better and often left the place feeling as though we were strangers. Very weird vibe, though the one server (Lori?) we had on a number of occasions was the exception to the server mentioned above - she is attentive, friendly, and has a great personality; if only we had her every time. Because of the spotty service, we now go to Dan's in Boonsboro or Domestic in Shepherdstown, both about five miles away. Both are superior, offering better food, beer selection (Dan's has 24 beers on tap!), and consistently better service for the same prices. We liked giving this local place our business but it just seemed like they didn't really value ours very much.
(3)Bill N.
We are in town from Florida for a Geocaching event taking a tour of Antietam and we're looking for a bite to eat after a busy day. We have been craving crab all week. Clicked crab into the GPS search and we were guided to this location. From the outside it looked promising. Supporting the local business's and staying out of the big mainstream restaurants was our goal. The Good,..... um well the beer is cold. The servers seemed uninformed of the menu items and uncertain as to whether items were available or not. We ordered The Crab Cheese fries. They looked good from the table next to ours but they were incredible salty. I ordered the special Prime Rib and my colleague ordered the seafood devolia. Huge with the quality of the Prime Rib and the flavor profile of the Seafood Pasta dish. Like other reviewers have stated, the place smells of old tobacco. The bathroom needs to be cleaned... and I mean cleaned with a power wash and ammonia rinse... it smells awful! The place looks nice enough, but the behind the scenes is pretty shady.
(2)Oliver L.
The Chicken Milano special is a juicy grilled chicken breast with mozzarella and spinach. It was so delicious and felt healthy. I got a bowl of the beef stew soup. It was spicy and it is soup not a stew. Only one person was working the bar and waiting tables but i felt that she did everything right. Service was great.
(4)Desiree R.
A local couple recommended Captain Benders to us as we were looking for a place to grab lunch. The burgers were GREAT! The inside is you regular bar decor. All of the prices were very reasonable. We would stop in again if in the area.
(4)Tony C.
I'm afraid my first experience with this venue will also be my last. My wife and I had just come from a work assignment nearby and decided to stop in based on some recommendations from friends. We sat "wherever you like" (it was a Monday and the only other customers there were getting ready to leave). We were quickly served menus and ordered unsweetened iced tea (which was pretty good, actually). A few minutes later, our menu order was taken. I ordered a reuben panini and my wife ordered a pulled pork sandwich. We both "upgraded" to onion rings. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time, and the server was quite hospitable. My wife enjoyed her lunch, but complained that the cole slaw that accompanied her sandwich tasted like it was made with butter and mayo. I ate the first half of my sandwich and a couple of onion rings, and then headed immediately to the bathroom. I was sick... and suddenly... needless to say (and with no further detail needed) I did not eat the remainder of that sandwich. I'm unsure if it was the dressing or the sauerkraut that was bad, but something set me off and big time! The sandwich was taken off the bill, but the damage was done. I just hope nobody else had to endure that spoiled food the way I did. Like other reviewers have stated, the place smells of old tobacco. The bathroom needs to be cleaned... and I mean cleaned with a power wash and ammonia rinse... it smells awful! The place looks nice enough, but the behind the scenes is pretty shady.
(2)Sonia P.
Wanted to find a casual spot to get some noms during our camping trip in Sharpsburg and came across Captain Benders Tavern. Super dive-y inside and you can tell that locals make this their go-to spot. Followed another person's advice and ordered a cup of their crab soup - it did not disappoint! Creamy with a great depth of flavor that warmed my soul. I had a hankerin' for a burger that night and got French Onion Burger (bacon, horseradish cream sauce, caramelized onions and Swiss). It totally hit the spot and the horseradish cream sauce was genius; beef and horseradish go great together so how did I not think of adding it to a burger?! My guy ordered the Cajun Chicken Sandwich (a whole, grilled chicken breast with Cajun seasonings and bleu cheese) that was very satisfying and hit the spot. We were sitting at one of the bar stools and oh my goodness, were those wobbly!! The relaxed (but efficient) bartender assured us we'd be fine (we were) but they might want to invest in some new ones. There was a "gaming area" in the back with a dartboard and maybe some other games; you can tell this place is a good spot to watch football since there's tons of Ravens signage and the football schedule is posted. I'd definitely check out this local, casual spot if you're strolling through Sharpsburg!
(4)Lorrie L.
Just stopped in here after seeing reviews and so glad we did. Great burgers and they are huge! Server was very nice. Nice atmosphere.
(4)