Review: Always Ron's in Hagerstown, MD

Meal: Weekday Lunch
Atmosphere: Casual
Service: Friendly But Slow
Prices: A Little High
Food: Not Great

Always Ron's is located at 29 North Burhans Boulevard in Hagerstown, MD. Dining Companion (DC) and I tried them for breakfast (see my previous review here), but hoped their lunch menu would prove to be more satisfying. Unfortunately, we were mistaken.

The interior of Always Ron's is casual and clean, though dimly lit. The service is generally pleasant, and both the hostess who seated us and our server were quite friendly.

The lunch prices at Always Ron's tend to be a bit on the high side, particularly given the size of the portions and the quality of the food. DC ordered a fried haddock sandwich that was served with chips and cost a whopping $10.95. My shrimp salad sandwich (with chips) was priced at $8.95, and our crab dip appetizer cost $9.95. Even the beverages are priced on the high side, at $2.29 for an iced tea.

There were two tables in the restaurant when we arrived, and both were already dining on their meals. So DC and I were surprised that it took so long for our food to be prepared. We waited quite a while before our meals were delivered to the table.

The crab dip was an incredible disappointment. Although it had a nice Old Bay flavor, it consisted mostly of cream cheese. The crab was practically nonexistent and undetectable. DC remarked, “This tastes like nothing other than seasoned cream cheese.”

My shrimp salad sandwich was the highlight of the meal. The shrimp was properly cooked, the sandwich was flavorful, the onions were crisp, and it was not drowning in mayonnaise. Unfortunately, despite the excellent taste, the amount of shrimp salad was skimpy and certainly not worth the almost-$9 price tag.

DC was pleased to note that his haddock was an actual piece of real fish rather than a processed fish square. Again, however, the portion size was lacking. As a result, the bun overwhelmed the fish. In addition, although the potato chips were yummy and crisp, DC's serving consisted of mostly crumbs from the bottom of the chip bag.

The restroom was clean and stocked, but continues to need updating. (The toilet still required me to “hold down the handle” for proper flushing.)

My verdict: Always Ron's is, unfortunately, always overpriced. Given the size of the portions and the quality of the food, they should cut their prices by 20%.

Tastefully Yours,

Ms. Dish