Old Anglers Inn

Such an iconic restaurant that has kept her charm and delicious food. We went after a long and beautiful hike and had grilled cheese and tomato soup… mmm perfect for the cold weather. The créame brûlée was exceptional. The cocktail’s list is impressive.

So glad we found Old Anglers Inn. The atmosphere begins as a you walk up to the Inn from the parking lot and step inside the entrance. Intimate seating and even with each table taken it is not loud and you can easily carry on a conversation. The staff was outstanding and extremely knowledgeable. I strongly recommend the mussels as a shared starter. The braised beef with mashed potatoes was outstanding and will be ordered again! Fell in love with the place and forgot to take pictures throughout the evening, finally got one at the end.

Always a favorite. You can not go wrong, the food is great, the atmosphere is great, the staff and owners are wonderful. A little gem along the trails and perfect spot after a hike.
Also super kids friendly ( as long as kids are polite which should be expected).
My kids love it there, we all do.

The back open bar is what I am reviewing.
Such a wonderful atmosphere with the firepit, live music, and lights. The food was excellent, even just pizza was done to perfection and the holiday drinks, I had hot buttered rum, was so delicious.

The dining area in the front table is a bit expensive for me. The back bar area is what I love.

We just hiked The Billy Goat A trail and were hungry. I ordered the Cesar Salad and added grill chicken. The chicken was moist and tasty. I enjoyed my salad. The place was pretty packed and the staff was very pleasant.

Ill admit, I didnt get the chance to eat here. I was here photographing an engagement session but management and staff were super polite for letting us use their restaurant as they were getting ready for dinner service. The groom's parents got engaged at this location years ago so it was important to the groom to be able to have a connection with this spot too. Thanks for letting us be there! ig@jsasuphotography

Granted it was a Valentines Day Dinner, the prix fix menu was perfect and reasonable. The ambiance at the Inn is romantic and feels like a little getaway. The oysters were large and flavorful, the venison with wild berry sauce perfect. Attentive staff and an excellent bar. Try and sit downstairs with the fireplace going in the winter - always a good bet.

I love love love this place! So much history and amazing food. The grilled chicken sandwich was spectacular!

Old Anglers Inn

My wife and I stopped by the Old Anglers Inn for lunch on an unreasonably warm December Friday afternoon. We were greeted by an outdoor eating space around a fire pit, in front of the restaurant. As the temperature was in the 60s, we decided to eat outside.

We started with an Irish coffee and a Hot Toddy. Both drinks were wonderful. The hot lemon and honey of the Hot Toddy felt soothing on my throat that had just gotten over a cold. The cinnamon stick was a nice touch. The Irish coffee started with great coffee, so it was also enjoyable.

For dinner, my wife had the crab cake. She's a bit of a crab cake connoisseur, and she very much enjoyed her lunch. She said that the crab cake was mostly crab and not just filler with a bit of crab for taste. She also said that it had a tarragon flavor, which was unexpected but no less enjoyable. The crab cake was served on a bed of corn in a nice sauce.

I had the Lentil Burger. It was served with goat cheese on the burger, lettuce, tomato, and a delightful cucumber sauce. I enjoyed it very much.

The service was fine. We did wait a bit for our check, but that was fine because we were enjoying the warm weather. After lunch we walked around the grounds and saw two different outdoor areas for private parties. All in all, though the Old Anglers Inn, though not cheap, is well worth what you pay, and we will be back.

Thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor seating next to the fountain, with a couple of auxiliary fans on a warm summer day. Food (gazpacho and French onion soups, grilled branzino and beef short ribs entrees) and service were stellar! Wonderful location hillside next to the C&O Canal.

I stumbled upon Old Anglers Inn while exploring Potomac and I'm so glad I did. The historic charm of the building adds to the dining experience, and the food is simply outstanding. Whether you're looking for a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends, this restaurant is sure to impress.

Wonderful place with a great atmosphere, food, and drinks.

They don’t mind if we show up dressed in hiking gear with our baby after a hike. They always make sure you are comfortable and happy.

I absolutely love this place!
The staff are very friendly and the food is delicious. Great atmosphere and the patio, trees, and garden are very relaxing.

Truly, this is one of my favorite spots in the world (without exaggeration). I have been here 5 times, always after a hike at the nearby Billy Goat trail. This was my first time in about 6 years, since having moved away from the DC area. This was also my first time coming with children (ages 9 and 2.5).

Note for parents with young children: while there is no children’s menu per se, they do offer off-menu chicken tenders and french fries. However, I felt like the regular menu offered enough items for children to enjoy. I ordered the meat charcuterie plate, which both boys loved, the many different small pieces of cheese, meet and pesto toast being gobbled up happily. Lemonades hit the spot on a hot summer afternoon. The french fries, which came as a side wjth my order, were Deliciously seasoned, fried to crispy perfection and also happily devoured by my hungry sons.

There is a lovely outdoor patio space, which has place for kids to run around and to be distracted by the large fountain And birdbath in the middle. It might not be an ideal space for entertainment when crowded, but we’re not crowded, the kids will really enjoy the outdoor decor. There is also a “secret“ Iron spiral staircase adjacent to the bathrooms, which the little ones will thoroughly enjoy going up and down, if the upstairs dining space is not occupied.

For adults, in the past, I have been very impressed with the oyster starters, as well as the traditional hamburger and the salmon main entrée. This time around, I ordered the lentil burger. It was huge, And I was impressed at how the otherwise super soft texture of the lentils were perfectly balanced by the Crispness of a large red onion slab, which surprisingly did not overwhelm.

Whether showing up sweaty/muddy, or dressed for fine dining on an anniversary dinner, you won’t be disappointed by the decor, service and food quality of Old Anglers Inn. I make it a point to visit here every time I am in the DC-area. I cannot recommend highly enough!

We had a really good time at this place and it's location truly can't be beat. If you want a cold beer or some good food that's right near the billy goat trails or the c&o canal. There's not really many other options, however this one is a good one regardless. The food can be a little pricey as well as the drinks. However, it's like you have drinks in a national park so I'm not here to complain at all lol. Your staff is really good and also the ambiance and cuteness of the building really seals the deal. It's one of the things I look forward to most when we go hiking around that area

The best crab cake, the freshest oysters and the best shrimp cocktail from all places! Cocktails too!

The oysters were divine, the Cheese Board, the Duck….the Clam Chowder was the best I’ve ever had-glorious. The atmosphere, lighting, the food, the people-there’s no place on earth like Old Angler’s Inn!

Love the ambiance and the fact that they have two sides one for a more fine dining experience and the other for a more casual setting for the hikers walk down from the billy goat trail. I had the fresh fish special which was the Branzino and it was exceptional. Highly recommend you try it if they have it as a special. I also loved the bar area reminds me of the past and has a very cozy sophisticated vibe. Overall 5 stars

Wonderful, quaint dining (alfresco at the moment due to covid-19) but plenty of gas heaters and a huge roaring wood fire to keep you warm. Terrific service and one of the best Reuebin sandwiches I've ever had!!! Would highly recommend this place. They also have a beer garden.

Very relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Beer garden in the back and sit-down dining in the front. Tons of outdoor seating for both parts, lots of radiant heat towers and fire pits spread around. Right across the street from the Great Falls/Billy Goat Trail head. Pizza was great and beer selection was very tasty.