Clean, Wide selection of Beer and Alcohol
DESCRIPTION: While the outside appearance is a typical Hagerstown bar, you will be pleasantly suppressed at the inside of the establishment! With 10 draught beer selections, over 80 bottled beers, and countless bottles of liquor. Merlin s has a great selection of alcoholic products to meet any taste! The food was very tasty, and modestly priced. I had their double cheese burger lunch special for $3.50, and let me tell you they really surprised me with a huge burger. This thing was 2/3 lb sirloin ground beef! It was very juicy and tasty! They must also be known for their wings, as I saw several people order them, looking at the menu I saw that they had 10 different flavors of wings! I will definitely have to come back to try them. Their menu prices were way undervalued for the quality of their food from what I could see. They have a Dace floor, free music, a billiards table, NTN Trivia network, and Darts. The bathrooms were very clean, and the staff and patron were friendly. I definitely think I found my favorite new hangout!
DATE: 2004-03-27
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Burgers, Wings, Crab Cakes

Unbelievable quality and VALUE
DESCRIPTION: We have eaten here for several years and always had outstanding food and service. You must try one of the draft beers, and any of the German entries. They are more then happy to satisfy your personal wishes. If the weather is nice try the beer garden. Save room for dessert.
DATE: 2004-07-02
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Filet Madellions mit Schalotten

Best German Restaurant in Maryland
DESCRIPTION: I have to comment on the gentleman above who thinks that the beer is pricy and that one should save their money for the real thing in Deutschland. Phooey. The Schmankerl Stube is an excellent German Restaurant. My wife is German and I lived almost eight years in Germany. I have been throughout the country and my favorite German food is by far the Bavarian basic country style of cooking. In many ways, it reminds me of the cooking found in the "Deep South" of our own country. Unchanged for centuries, these basic German dishes have pleased kings and queens for the past millemnium. Charlie, who owns the Schmankerl Stube, does an excellent job of creating a true, yet simple, German atmosphere reflective of his home country. This is very much what one would find in restaurant in a small town in Germany, should one wander in for a meal and a brew. Charlie's original beers are the real thing, and are imported in kegs from Germany. This is not the Americanized version of a foreign beer. A Typical German beer carries an alcohol content of 4-6% and some are higher. Charlie carries real German beer. My suggestion is that you call ahead for reservations and reserve the Schwein-Haxen. My German wife swears that Charlie has the best Schwein-Haxen she has ever eaten. I would say they are equal to the best I have ever eaten. As for the price of Charlie's beer, they are less costly than what you would pay at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. I pasted the Munich Hofbruahaus beer menu, which I found on the web, below for your Reference. Hofbr u Original (light beer) 1,0 l 6,20 Hofbr u Dunkel (dark beer) 1,0 l 6,20 M nchner Kindl Weissbier (wheat beer) 0,5 l 3,30 Radler (light beer and lemon soda mix) 1,0 l 6,20 Dunkles Radler (dark beer and lemon soda mix) 1,0 l 6,20 Ru n (wheat beer and lemon soda mix) 1,0 l 6,60 Right now (February 14, 2006), one Euro is about $1.19. As you can see above, one "Hoffbrau Original" at the Munich Hofbrauhaus costs about $7.38 US today. Knock $1.00 off the price for the Hofbrauhaus being a tourist trap and you have about the same price at the Schmankerl Stube as the common folk pay in Germany. Charlie is not ripping anyone off. In fact, the Schmankerl Stube is an excellent value if you do not mind spending moderately on a meal. I recommend it highly. James Knight Knightsj1@aol.com
DATE: 2006-02-14
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Schwein-Haxe

An outstanding suprise
DESCRIPTION: Having dined here on several occasions one can only comment on the outstanding quality of the food, service, varity and surroundings. We have never been disapointed. The food is a cut above any other restaurant in western Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. The service is prompt and friendly.
DATE: 2002-11-23
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Sea food, Beef and the desserts are to die for.

Chef really knows what he is doing
DESCRIPTION: This is an "old line" restaurant with a traditional class that is rarely found these days. The decor is decidely upscale but not contrived like many of the "new age" restaurants in the area. The food is uniformly excellent. It is unusual for this writer to experience a near-flawless meal, but at Nick's you can almost count on it - top quality seafood carefully handled and thoughtfully seasoned; fowl that is always perfectly done and restaurant grade beef and lamb that is cooked exactly how you order it. Variations on basic dishes are creative but restrained and always delicious
DATE: 2004-03-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

Always worth going a bit out of the way for.
DESCRIPTION: Have been there only a couple of times and usually it's for a special occasion. The crabcakes are truly decadent and the service impeccable. Always worth going a bit out of the way for.
DATE: 2005-06-01
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : broiled crabcake