Savage River Lodge

Great food, great atmosphere. We had an amazing dinner, however, a couple was complaining about everything (I am sure you will see his review above) he said «there is a lack of adult supervision in this establishment» and said everything was awful and his wife lost her appetite due to the bad appetizers. He said the appetizer was Luke warm, however, when the manger came he said it was scalding hot, then continued to complain about every little thing there is to complain about. It was ridiculous. I believe restaurants should be able to kick people out for anything, therefore, these people should have been removed from the restaurant IMMEDIATELY. My night was completely ruined due to the balls of this jack***. We let the manager know everything was wonderful to make her feel better after she got an ear full from these pretentious people. I just cannot believe people like that actually exist. The server was fantastic and the dinner was perfect. These were ugly people who were hard to look at and somehow found money (or maybe not since they were doing everything to get a free meal) and think everyone is beneath them.

My wife surprised me with a birthday getaway to this wonderful place! If your idea of rest and relaxation is a high paced day filled with tv, movies, & Facebook then you should probably stay at a Holiday Inn. From the moment we arrived we were treated as long time friends by all of the staff. We took some time to have a drink at the bar and sit by the fire till our cabin was ready (we were very early). Within a half hour we made our way to the cabin. The cabin was awesome. Simple and comfortable. The bed was the most comfortable I had ever slept in!!! The staff also left me chocolates for my birthday, how awesome! We ate dinner at the lodge, I can’t say enough about the service and food!!! We had the fillet and the lodges signature meatloaf! After a night of resting to the sounds of the woods and a cool breeze we awoke to find breakfast on our doorstep from the lodge. We spent the morning hiking the trails and reminiscing about the fantastic evening we had just had! Check out seemed like I was saying goodbye to family and it made me sad!

My girlfriend and I spent a night at the Savage River Lodge staying in a Yurt. Given how comfortable we were on the property, and the great ambiance there, we decided to eat at the lodge restaurant for dinner.
I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone considering going. The wine list has some affordable options for those on a bit more of a budget (not to say that this menu is not expensive — it is). As far as food goes, we had the artisan cheese plate to start and then shared the duck breast and filet mignon. Everything was amazing. The combination of good food and beautiful view from our table on the outside deck made for a truly memorable meal.

If I could give SRL a higher rating than 5 stars, I would.
A group of wedding vendors, models, and myself traveled down from Pittsburgh and NYC for a multi-​day photoshoot. We were greeted with excited smiles and quick check-​ins. The entire staff (especially Elizabeth and Jennifer) were so incredible. Any questions we had about the property/​parks nearby were answered almost immediately with thorough explanations and printed maps to help us on our way.
A few things I expect to happen every time I stay at a hotel, B&B, lodge, or resort that did not happen at SRL:
1) Based on previous experiences, I expect it will take forever to check in — but not at SRL. I thought to myself, «maybe it’s moving quickly because they know we’re busy and have to get to work.» But I watched as two other families checked in and the process was just as speedy. I was immediately impressed.
2) Based on previous experiences, I expect to be interrupted by staff regularly throughout my stay — both at my room/​cabin and while on the grounds. Not the case at SRL. No one ever knocked on my door to see if they could pop in quickly to change my towels or work on anything. (But I’m sure they would have if I would have requested it.) This was great for us because we were working at odd hours and sleeping at even more odd hours. They were so considerate and quiet; I never even heard them drop the breakfast baskets at my door each morning. I just knew what time they’d be there (because they told us) and I was sure to look at that time.
3) Based on previous experiences, I expect food at resorts/​lodges/​hotels to be subpar. Not the case at SRL. The food was perfection. I was sad we hadn’t scheduled more meals at the lodge because there were so many things I wanted to try on the menu. (Their salads are insanely good, mixed drinks are incredible, pureed potatoes are mind-​boggling, and the orange juice dropped at the front door every morning was so, so great!)
4) Usually at more «remote» style lodges/​resorts, it can be a little scary if you injure yourself. I’ve asked hotel staff for band-​aids in the past and have had to wait for 20 minutes for someone to drop them at my door. But the second day into the shoot, I cut my finger pretty badly while working. After a while of it still bleeding, I sat and waited for whoever would drop off my breakfast basket to ask their advice. She told me about the best hospitals in the area and their distances from the lodge. Literally, seconds after she left, the bleeding stopped but two minutes later, Jen, the special events coordinator was at my door with a first aid kit to see if I needed anything. Now, the lodge isn’t right beside the cabins. I have no idea how she was at my door so fast — but I was so impressed and thankful that they were so worried and willing to help take care of me if I had needed it. It made me feel very comfortable and at ease.
5) Based on past experiences, when somewhere says it’s «dog friendly» it usually means you can bring your dog to your rental unit but don’t plan to walk the grounds with them because everywhere else is «no dogs allowed» — but not at SRL. There were countless trails on the property that were perfect for walking pups!
The bottom line is that this place is everything I imagined and hoped — and more. The cabins were BEAUTIFUL and the yurts were absolutely gorgeous! Both have completely different vibes, which is really great. It was interesting to see the families/​couples staying in the yurts versus the cabins.
While I expected this work trip to feel like a work trip, it was so much more than that. Savage River Lodge gave us the perfect space to work, the perfect space to sleep and relax, and the perfect place to connect to one another. The lack of televisions in the cabins/​yurts mixed with the beautiful porches gave us space and encouragement to sit and talk while absorbing the natural beauty around us.
I can very confidently say that the experience would not have been as enjoyable or fulfilling if we had stayed at a hotel or, really, anywhere else. SRL is where it’s at and, just days after leaving; I’m already planning my next trip.

What an unexpectedly pleasant place! We found out about the lodge and restaurant because they offer electric car charging in their parking lot, and we needed to charge up a bit on a trip through the area. Although we didn’t spent the night, we did eat at the restaurant while the car charged, and enjoyed the bonfire outside afterward. The staff were all very friendly and told us about cross country skiing here in the winter, and about other nearby attractions (state parks near Deep Creek Lake).
The food was outstanding. We had a crab dip appetizer, creamy smoked Gouda soup, salad with scallops, and spinach and kale stuffed eggplant. They also have a great wine menu, and interesting looking cocktails. Dessert was cheesecake with chocolate and strawberry sauce.
We’ll be back to check out the cabins and yurts, and to eat in the restaurant again. PS: the place is solar powered! They make 90% of their power needs on a good day.

We were in western Maryland for a family reunion. After looking through the closest restaurants we came upon SRL and we are so happy we did! While we just came for lunch, we are really looking forward to going back and staying at the lodge.
The ambiance was amazing. After driving up a path that seemed to go on for two miles we noticed beautiful yurts and cabins. The lodge itself is gorgeous — perched on a mountain, there views are incredible. We also walked around after our meal and everything was so serene and peaceful.
We all split the truffle fries which were out of this world. The roasted root veggies were amazing — perfectly seasoned. Everyone had a different salad and we all tasted each others. They were full of veggies and ingredients and were the perfect size. The soups were amazing as well. It was a shame that we were too full for dessert because it was the most eclectic and interesting assortment of desserts I’ve ever heard. For next time I guess!
The service however was the best part. They young lady who served was extremely helpful with choosing dishes. Not only that but she could answer all the questions about the lodge and we enjoyed talking to her for a while after our meal.
I also love that they’re using renewable energy sources. It’s the cherry on top. It’s a little piece of heaven!

Update after our second stay at SRL — most importantly the bar menu which we didn’t experience our first time around.
While we absolutely loved returning to SRL our only beef, so to speak, was the food. Their breakfast and lunch menus are still amazing. However, we were seriously bummed they changed some ingredients and dishes which have magically been updated on their menus but NOT on their website.
The last time we were here they were out of multiple dishes on their dinner menu as well as crostini for our crab dip (!!!) Everything they were out of happened to be something I was looking forward to. Given our dinner gamble last time we went elsewhere for dinner or else stuck with the bar menu this time around. We didn’t want to have the same experience and be forced into eating something we didn’t particularly care for. Not to mention we live close to Baltimore. If So we brought some of our own food, ate elsewhere, and had everything but dinner at SRL this time around. It was much better, not to mention cheaper! The bar menu is a great deal, even if it’s oddly quiet absent any ambient noise from a tv or music. It was actually kind of weird as we could hear every other conversation going on and the bartender asking the couple seated next to us if they wanted a free shot every 10 minutes. That was kind of weird.
BAR MENU: At the time of writing this their bar menu isn’t on their website so I thought I’d include what it consists of, or at least what I can remember. For lighter fare: venison sausage, crab dip, artisan cheese plate, beet and goat medley, roasted root veggies, mushroom quesadilla and clam chowder. Would love to see the clam chowder on their dinner menu but no dice. Had the artisan cheese plate and it was awesome. As for salads they had pretty much the same salads that they have on their lunch menu. We didn’t have a salad but as I remember from last time their salad dressings were awesome. They also had four or so sandwiches including a Waygu burger and turkey club. The others weren’t as memorable as their lunch sandwiches.
Regardless, we enjoyed everything we ordered off of the bar menu much more than what we previously ordered from their dinner menu. Maybe it’s because we’re «city folk» as they call us (behind our backs) but at the end of the day we want authentic food that reflects their surroundings and their backyard. While we understand they have local regulars, they’re not the ones paying $ 250+ for a yurt. If we wanted awesome filet mignon for $ 35 or lobster risotto for $ 29 we’d go somewhere closer to where we live in Baltimore or DC. We’d save our money and not have to endure a 3 hour trip. We want food that represents the area and all they have to offer. It’s not too much to ask for given how much we paid at the end of the day.

My family and I stayed here for 2N3D and absolutely loved our stay. Everyone from those in the visitor’s center to the restaurant were incredibly attentive and friendly. The food at the restaurant was fantastic as well — I had the duck one evening, and then a cheeseburger for lunch the next day. The duck was by far my favorite– it was crispy but still juicy and tender. My brother had the meatloaf, which tasted a bit like Korean galbi (which is delicious).
The cabins were beyond beautiful. We stayed in a queen lodge that overlooked the forest. Inside, it gets very warm and toasty regardless of the frigid weather outside. The breakfast baskets were always a delight, and the various trails behind the lodges are wonderful to trek through. Also, did I mention they’re gluten free friendly?!
I was compelled to write this review though, from the marvelous treatment we received as we were leaving. We had driven our 2-​wheeler minivan so when it started snowing like crazy and the ground froze from the cold, we began to get worried (the roads leading into and out of the lodges are sloped and winding) The staff however, got onto it and informed us that they also knew of our situation. And while we were eating lunch, the owner of the lodges got in his tractor to spread tons of gravel on the road we would be driving on to get to the highway (gravel provides traction. Salt would only have re-​froze). Not only that, but he also stayed in the tractor at the end of the road so that if we got stuck somewhere, he could come pull us out. Without him and the staff, we surely would have crashed within minutes of leaving the lodges. I definitely recommend everyone to try this place out if you ever have a free weekend!

We were looking for a romantic place to celebrate our anniversary within driving distance from DC area. Found this lodge online and had great reviews so we booked it. We asked for the anniversary package which included one night in a cabin and dinner. For a small fee we were upgraded to a yurt. It was the most amazing experience to stay in a yurt. It’s basically a glamorous tepee. The bed was so comfortable and the sheets were so soft and warm. The fireplace kept the yurt warm throughout the night. It was absolutely wonderful. There was a bottle of champagne waiting for us in the room with a note that said «Happy Anniversary.»
In the morning, the staff delivered delicious muffins and freshly squeezed orange juice. We also had dinner at the restaurant. The food was excellent. We had the meatloaf and the fish (black salmon). They were both delicious. The staff brought chocolate covered strawberries because it was our anniversary. Small details like these made the stay even more wonderful.
Overall SRL is a great place to relax in the woods with above average dining available and very friendly staff. Hiking is great and it is mostly dead silent, which is what we were after. We will probably return in the spring or fall. We are very pleased with our stay at SRL and have been recommending it to all of our friends and family.

Well worth the drive to Savage River Lodge! The staff is friendly, the food is excellent and the location is beautiful. We went for dinner and the prices were on the higher price end for us, but it is a place we would go back to for a special occasion!

First visited SRL several years ago for lunch, so wanted to try it for a nice dinner. Up front, it is pricey, with the cost more for a resort crowd than for local frequent diners. That being said, it was a very nice treat!
I had the Signature Meat Loaf — the best meat loaf I’ve ever had (w/​apologies to wife and mother)!! In fact, it’s too good for as simple a name as meat loaf (but then, what should it be called). If you go, order it.
My wife had the Autumn Lasagna from the Vegan/​Vegetarian portion of the menu. She is neither, but it looked tasty from the menu’s description, and it was — another high recommend.
I also had the duck black lentil bean soup, which was very good.
Extensive wine list, perhaps a bit overpriced, but see first paragraph.

Had a nice evening with friends at this charming restaurant in a beautiful setting, overlooking a pine forest and lovely meadow with deer. The hummingbirds flying about the dining deck were a treat as well. While we enjoyed the food, especially the well conceived cheese plate and outstanding meatloaf, we found the price too high for the quality of the overall experience. Though they asked about allergies when I made the reservation, my husband was served oat bread with his appetizer, one of three items I’d said he couldn’t eat. They cheerfully brought other bread, but it was an error that might have had unpleasant or dangerous consequences. And even though they noted a sharing up-​charge of $ 10 on the menu (which admittedly, we only noticed after the meal), we were put off by it. We’d ordered multiple appetizers, dessert, coffee and wine, and felt the extra fee was unnecessarily high for the chef to split our entrée and add an extra dollop of potato/​vegetable.

Beautiful location — set in a beautiful lodge in the woods. I could have stayed much longer. The food, service, location and ambiance was all superb. Highly recommend the meatloaf and the peanut butter pie for dessert. Enjoy!

Amazing wine list (over 250 bottles). My glasses of Merlot and Cabernet were smooth and delectable.
–4 beers on tap when we went (Sam Adams seasonal, heavy seas black cannon, devils backbone Vienna lager, porter)
–breakfast: I had the hunter omelet and my husband had the tomato florentine. The omelets were so fluffy and soft that we inquired how they were prepared — cream and clarified butter. It was the best omelet I’ve ever had. The sausages were sausage «meatballs» that had a mixed spiced savoriness.
–room service: we ate dinner twice via room service. The service was friendly although they did forget two parts of our order (a side and an item off the dog menu). When we called to infirm them, they promptly delivered the items within 10 minutes, apologized and took $ 10 off the bill.
–duck ravioli appetizer. I love Al dente but these were almost hard. The flavor was nice, though.
–duck breast entrée — served medium was very good with a crispy salty skin to compliment the juicy pink meat. It came with a tiny side of kale.
Venison sausage– appetizer came w one sausage link for $ 9. It was a bit too firm but the flavor was well seasoned and not at all gamey like I thought venison we old be.
–filet mignon — cooked to medium rare (asked for rare this time) was very tender with a nice glaze sauce over Yukon purée. Nicely done but not the best I’ve had.
–lentil side — my husband loved them but they were a bit too plain and under-​seasoned for me.
–cheese plate: excellent selection of cheeses (a hard, soft, medium firm and a very firm Bleu –impressive and experienced varieties.
–bone a petit menu — cure offerings including meatballs and peanut butter biscuits. We ordered the chicken and rice which had green beans, sweet potato atop rice pilaf. My dogs loved it of course. The portion was a bit small (we ordered the «big paw»).
–dog biscuits. We must admit that we tried the Bodhi biscuits and they were really good!!! Crazy but they tasted like parmesan biscuits for people– buttery and cheesey? Our dogs were not happy that we were eating their treats! Shame on us.

We stay here with our dog 2 or 3 times a year. It’s a great getaway from DC. It’s a great place for someone who likes to relax and have some peace and quiet. If you get the chance, book a half day fly fishing trip with Travis, if you’ve never done it before, it’s a great introduction and the lodge will provide all of the gear you need.
The food at the lodge is very good, and the staff are all great. We’ve never had a bad experience at the SRL.

Wonderful and relaxing
SRL is a wonderful escape from the city. The private cabins are quaint and cozy. You receive muffins and fresh OJ in a pic nic basket each morning on our porch. Very very dog friendly. Dinner was good too! They have the option of In-​Cabin Dining. Highly recommended!
SRL is located on over 100 acres and lots of hiking. It is also near great biking: Allegany pass and C&O trail!
We will come back! Highly recommended.

Event; For my birthday, my wife booked a weekend stay in late April.
Arrival: This place is out in the woods! When we arrived, the staff was very friendly.
The Cabin: The folks that run the lodge think of all the little things. From the shoe cleaner and the umbrella to a room key with a light on it. When we entered the cabin, the owners had left a hand written note wishing me a happy birthday with delicious pieces of chocolate. And believe this, the shower had better water pressure than my shower back home! Really nice cabins.
The restaurant: One of the highlights for my wife and me. The food was great. My recommendation is to eat the meat on the menu unless you are vegan or such. In addition, the breakfast and the lunch are great. Eventhough the food is not cheap, it is a much better option than driving out and you will feel rewarded.
The Dog: So one of the main reasons we chose this place was the dog friendly policies. Extremely dog friendly to the point that our dog would get a breakfast bone with our breakfast basket each morning.
The Hiking: Its a great place to hike as the trails are well marked. Our dog loved the ability to run around as back in the city, you will never have an option of letting you dog off leach.
Any negatives: Not really, This is a great place and it is family run with the owners walking around making sure that everyone is happy. Maybe, one suggestion is to have so better wines on the menu as we did not have anything special.
Afterword; We received a handwritten post card thanking us for our stay. Now, if more places were like this. We can only wish

This place is incredible, especially considering it is in the hills of Western Maryland! Such an incredible surprise to find a first class restaurant/​lodge in that area. The most pleasant surprise is they actually have vegan and vegetarian dishes on their menu! We loved every bite of our food!
The other plus is they are pet friendly and they obviously love dogs!
I would HIGHLY recommend the Greer Lodge, I plan on being a regular there each and every time I visit my family in Western Maryland! The only reason I didn’t give them five stars is because of the dead animals hanging on the lodge walls.

The funny thing is, on Saturday morning, I didn’t even know where I was going for my birthday weekend… my wife had been planting all kinds of misleading hints (ranging from the Eastern Shore to Frederick), so I didn’t know what to expect.
After stopping for lunch in Frederick, we drove for a few more hours and ended up at an absolutely idyllic, beautiful getaway, the Savage River Lodge. The managers had everything ready for us: a well-​outfitted cabin, fans already running, everything a couple on holiday could need, plus a «Happy Birthday» balloon w/​a small box containing two truffles attached. (Aww.)
Let me break it down:
Surroundings: Beautiful and quiet. You could get into as much trouble as you wanted to… there are miles of trails on the property (a state park) alone to go on mild-​medium hikes. If you need small towns or cities, there are a bunch in close proximity (Cumberland was pretty cute) for shopping, dining or antiquing.
Our cabin: Spacious, carpeted and very comfortable. It was well-​shaded by trees, and we were lucky to have cool nights even in July, so the ceiling fans made it almost too cold. Fluffy but firm bed, coffee/​tea laid out for us and a mini-​fridge for the wine and groceries we brought. Plenty of room to stretch out, read and relax.
Treatment: Excellent, from fresh-​baked muffins and juice waiting outside your cabin door each morning to the excellent service we received in setting up tours and having our every need taken care of. The lodge’s restaurant was epic, for having a relatively simple menu: we had dinner there our first night, splitting an appetizer of house-​made game sausages (two wild boar, one venison), a cup of watermelon soup (had savory accents of onion, basil and cilantro), and splitting their meatloaf (also made with boar and venison) and crab cake entrees. We could have split one entrée and been happy… as it is, we were stuffed but deliriously so. They have a substantial wine cellar and it sounded like their chef was always experimenting with the menu.
We could have easily stayed a few days in our room alone, but the hiking, the small towns, and a halfday trip across the PA state line to two of Frank Lloyd Wright-​designed homes lured us out. Still, we both left wishing we had a few more days to stay and enjoy the quiet and lush surroundings.
In short, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

After reading the reviews on Unilocal,I decided to take my fiancé here for his Birthday (Oct. 2010). Its definitely a different experience because of the fact that the lodge is in the middle of a state park in Maryland… Very unique!!! If you are looking for a place to take that special someonefor a great night out other than a typical run of the mill chain restaurant, then this is the place for you.
Our journey to find the lodge did not go as planned… A 35 minute drive from somerset turned in to over an hour!!! Some of the roads we had to travel were not marked at all!!! Typical Somerset County… Then finally we found the entrance to the lodge and once again I was surprised to find out it was just a dirt road. Uh oh!!! Did we make a mistake traveling here??? No way!!! The place is beautiful (see attached photos) The Landscape of the area is breathtaking… Where can you go and have a very nice dinner and then go out on the back porch and see deer eating? This place!!! It was Wonderful!!! I was tickled pink seeing nature at its best.
Even though the menu was a bit pricey (that’s why I gave it four stars), it was worth it!!! The wait staff was very attentive and the food was delicious… Then after dinner, we took a walk of the grounds and nothing was more peaceful to see the great outdoors after a awesome meal. I recommend this place if you are in to snow shoeing or just want a relaxing getaway weekend (this place is a b and b as well) If you like to travel and love the outdoors, jump in the car and head to the lodge (note: if you go there in the winter months make sure you have 4×4, the road leading to the lodge can be a bit tricky…)