The Factory Grill

Thank goodness this place has been closed. Ken and Karen ‘chainberlain’ aka wood and Caruso, are terrible people. They cheated an entire staff out of wages, and up and left half of the staff in the middle of the night. They use fake illnesses to get out of paying bills, and as a tactic for compassion. Like a previous Unilocaler stated, the cakes are in fact from Sam’s Club, yes the ones Karen herself told people she made. No originality at all, every dish was simply something they’ve seen somewhere else. Hopefully the court system will stop letting them change their names, and attempting to cheat the system and maybe. .make them pay their taxes.

We ate here in September with a Groupon and oh, was this a fantastic find! It had been a while since I’d been to Savage Mill and was looking for an alternative to Rams Head Tavern (where I’ve eaten a few times). This establishment primarily serves comfort food in a casual, open-​air portion of the Mill. Think more or less «diner-​style.» ***IMPT — The last time I checked, they were going through a major renovation and were closed during the construction, so you will want to call in advance to confirm they are open for business.
The food we had was superb — Fish and Chips for him and Chicken Sandwich for me. The French fries were really sensational. It probably didn’t hurt that the owner was present while we were eating, but in speaking with him, we were able to find out a bit more about the place. And being the foodies that we are, with nothing off limits except bad restaurants — we go from cafes and diners to elegant fine dining and everything in between. We love supporting independent businesses that meet and exceed our expectations and this is one well worth supporting.
When you go, be sure to save room for dessert. The baked goods are made from scratch — home recipes of the co-​owner. German Chocolate Cake and Coconut Cake were among the treasures when we were there. My husband claimed the German Chocolate Cake was the best he’d ever have.
I’m really surprised and perplexed by the comments about price. Both my husband and I thought the prices were exceptionally reasonable — totally justified even without the Groupon. Most of the adult dinner entrees were around $ 10, give or take, and some were around $ 15. I really don’t find this shocking or outrageous. And the amount of food served was to be expected for diner-​like establishments.
The atmosphere is ideal for families — especially those with small children. The tabletops are lined with paper and you’ll be given a set of crayons once you’re seated. And there is a children’s menu to satisfy the little ones. If you are considering going with a group — I would strongly advise that you call in advance. Wait staff may be limited and unable to provide the necessary attention to a large group, but the facility can certainly seat large parties.
Much of the wait staff when we were there were going through training, so there was a bit of a learning curve that the owner assisted with and advised us of. Nonetheless, a little patience will make this experience well worth your wait.
The Mill does have limited hours, particularly during the week, so if you’re going for dinner during the week, it will need to be on the early side. ADVICE: Check the hours of operation before you go.

This review is from the bakery stand point only.
Went to Savage Mill the other day and was actually heading toward Bonaparte Breads. Just outside the back of Savage Mill, a sweet aroma filled the air. I was with my son and we just let our nostrils lead us. We wound up in front of The Factory Grill’s ice-​cream case. Our eyes first caught site of a brownie or was it a cookie? No, it was a brookie — a combination of a brownie and a chocolate chip cookie. Can we say, «come to mamma!» I was gonna leave after that, but then the cakes, in the side case, beckoned me to stay awhile longer. Seriously homemade cakes: apple caramel, chocolate, coconut, red velvet and banana cream. My child opted for the apple caramel and I chose the banana cream cake. This bakery could definitely make boxed cakes obsolete — they were that good! The banana cream cake was just like a banana cream pudding, only ten times better. Needless to say, we didn’t even make it to Bonaparte Breads.

My husband and I love this place. I always get either the chicken cheesesteak or the chicken salad. The food is delicious and we really like the atmosphere. The cakes and brownies are DELICIOUS! Dessert is my favorite course in a meal and they do not disappoint. The brownies are delicious, all of the cakes I have ever tried are amazing and I like knowing that they are made fresh there by the owners themselves. Service is always great and the owners check-​in with guests which is a nice touch. Definitely recommend!

I am completely surprised by the negative reviews I am reading. My husband and I are «foodies», we buy groupons, amazon local, and living social vouchers on a regular basis. This forces us (and our children) to try new places. I can honestly say that most of the places we try, we would not return to, however, we loved Chamberlain’s and plan to add this to our restaurant rotation. This is not some fancy restaurant, its a diner style burger joint in a historic building. We ordered burgers, fries and milkshakes. All were just outstanding, the service staff was very friendly. To sum it up, its great diner food thats family friendly, and not too expensive, in a really cool environment.

I have hit a milestone — my first 1 star review. To be fair, this reflects just the walk-​up portion of the establishment. Just a few comments. There is coffee on the menu, but no coffee prepared/​available. Hot tea does not mean you should use hot tap water from the sink and provide a generic teabag from the supermarket. For $ 2.79/single scoop ice cream, there should be a full scoop — at least 4 oz (half a cup), not a kiddie scoop, less than 3 ounces. Yes, the economy is recovering slowly, but product quality still matters. Simply disappointed in the place — does not bode well for the restaurant/​grill part of the business.

I never had there food only once their ice cream and it was delicious. However, they never open since the one time I had their ice cream they been close. They said they close at 7pm not true. Today I come in really in the moon for some ice cream yea they close is it was 6:12pm. I come last week on a Monday around 2 pm they were just closings. They are a joke. They really don’t want business.

Very unwelcoming environment. They’re not even busy. I got kicked out for doing my hw here. I ordered some fresh fries and sat down for maybe half an hour. Immediately when my fries were done the manager came by to tell me that it’s not an area open to public. I told him I’d leave soon, but 5 mins later, he ordered one of the waitresses to come by and make a racket while cleaning so I could pack up sooner. I wonder how this business thrives…

I’m so glad that I am not the only one who has experienced questionable service here. The one time I got food here (the Fish and Chips), it was good. However, I ordered it as carryout and the gentleman didn’t give me any utensils, and then acted bothered by it when I came back to get some. He also had me wait while he went over the schedule with the manager.
Fast forward to today, when I was in the area. I tried to call in at 11:10 (they open at 11) to place a carryout order. No answer. I tried again five minutes later. No answer. I thought, well, maybe their phone isn’t working. So I arrived only to find the lights on, music playing, and not a worker in sight-​I am assuming they were in the kitchen. I waited for several minutes before deciding that this place is just not worth my business. And by the way, this was at 11:30 AM, 30 minutes after opening. There is no excuse for that.

good joint. i liked the cheese steak and milkshake
edit:
cake as good too!

I’ve eaten at this place many times and I will say that the service is not always the best. I’ve waited while the people taking orders finished drying their glasses before they would even take my order. I’ve been there where I had to just wait for someone before they would take my order. So needless to say, I’m never going back there again.
I’ve ordered a few things from there and the food isn’t terrible. I will say that the home chips do leave a lot to be desired. I’ve had them burnt, with no taste on multiple occasions.
They also have issues with people using the mill’s bathroom that you have to access from their seating area, I can understand that, but have a heart.
I’ve also seen the owner fuss with the people behind the counter, in front of customers. Come on now!

I hadn’t been to Savage Mills in a while, so I was surprised to find the small eatery had taken over a portion of the previously open area and turned it into a semi-​restaurant. As my teenage daughter was hungry, and didn’t feel like dragging her into a Ram’s Head, we decided to try here.
The food was quite tasty. My daughter originally ordered something chicken, but they were out. Still, the sandwich she ended up getting she seemed to enjoy. My own burger was nicely sized, cooked well, and was very enjoyable. The fries, as well, were restaurant quality and our meal was filling. The big downside was that you’re still spending Ram’s Head prices on what is basically Savage Mills version of a food court. Yes, the portions are nice but $ 10-​$ 15/​person for what amounts to nothing more than a commercial park eatery?
The other negative is that the service is definitely lacking. Although we didn’t deal with the rudeness of previous guests, the overall incompetence was definitely notable. Between being out of a key ingredient (chicken? really?) and constantly having to stop by the table to reconfirm what we ordered, our waiter was like something out of a Jerry Lewis sketch. He seemed overworked for the few people on the floor and the rest of the staff (maybe the same girls mentioned in other reviews?) just hung out behind the counter. I’m beginning to wonder if the current owners didn’t just drag their kids in and force them to work to save some money.
So, while this place fit the bill for that day, I’m on the fence if we’ll eat there again. They need to get their service in order and maybe we’ll ignore the cost for some decent food.

The Factory Grill is a small, cozy restaurant located in Savage Mills. Both my wife and I had hamburgers and they were excellent. The sweet potato fries are made with cinnamon brown sugar coating and are quite a nice surprise. We split a piece of coconut cake, which was also top notch. The service was excellent and our server, Evan, very polite. The atmosphere is light and airy and the restrooms clean. It’s a nice place for lunch.

This is an open, unpretentious place for hamburgers and sandwiches, lunch fare, and really great home made cakes. Mw wife had a burger which was as expected, a good basic burger. I had a fried arctic cod sandwich which was one of the best fish sandwiches i have had, no charge for onion rings instead of fries. My wife had the thin cut fries and both were very good. They have real ice cream, but i elected the chocolate cup cake, which was way better than good. Will be back for lunch with some friends in a couple of weeks when I will try the REAL milk shakes.
Not fine dining, hence only 4 stars, but well worth it for what it is. I would also go next time I need only a light dinner. BTW, the owner was around making sure things went well, always a good sign.

Tried to go check this place out for lunch. When we got there we were ignored by the hostess for several minutes. When she finally acknowledged us she said there would be a 5 min wait for a table. Ok, but I found it odd that there was at least 6 open tables. After a few minutes she came to us again and said I can seat you, but it will be at least 10 mins before I can take your order because the kitchen is backed up. Not a good way to start a meal, so we left and had a lovely lunch at rams head.

Three of us went to Savage Mill to enjoy the holiday decorations and browse through the stores. We decided just to have lunch at the Factory Grill rather than the Rams Head Tavern. Since the last time we ate at the «Grill» they have converted to full wait service rather than counter service. The three of us were seated and given menus, a breakfast menu until noon and then a lunch and light dinner menu.
Two of us ordered the chicken cheese steak sandwiches, one without onions, one without mayo. Our third guest ordered a salad with grilled chicken and a side order of hand cut potato chips. We ordered soda and teas, as there is no alcohol at the Grill. The salad was pretty mundane, mixed lettuce with grilled chicken and, as requested, an Italian dressing. But the home made potato chips were hot and fresh. The chicken cheese steaks came with real chunks of chicken, not the pressed stuff, and with the extra requests, as asked for. The rolls were soft and fresh. The accompanying fries were hand cut, really good. The staff was pleasant, it took a while to get our food, but we were busy chatting about Christmas day family nightmares, so we hardly noticed.
The baked goods in the case were cute and looked yummy, but after lunch we were full so had to pass. If going to Savage Mill to check out the shops this is a good place for lunch or breakfast, especially if you don’t want to take quite the time for a full meal at Rams Head. It’s definitely cooked to order, so not McDonalds type fast food, but maybe a little faster than a full scale restaurant.

The potential this place has is unreal! Why they don’t take advantage of it, I DON’T KNOW!
I’ve been here twice now, once when they opened, & again today. First time? Customer service was amazing! Food kinda blowed. Today? Piss poor customer service from the hostess, AND one of the owners. Customer service is a HUGE deal to me since working in the hospitality industry AND being a potential customer to everywhere I walk in. Don’t blow a potential life time customer cause you’re in a shitty mood, or had a bad day. Everyone’s been there, throw a smile on!
The food was better this time, but the chicken was still WAY over cooked and their captain crunch breading might as well have been char (turn down your fryers), the fries were under cooked, my fiancé had a burger, a factory (but not this one) made frozen burger. Nothing rememberable, just a already made burger.
The best experience at this joint was our waitress, Ashley. She was an amazing sweet young women, and had the best customer service out of all the people I actually said more than «thank you, have a good night!» to.
If I was to go back, it would only be to get drinks served to me by Ashley. Other than that, I’m good. Mediocre food? Here you go! Piss poor customer service? Step right in! Otherwise, Rams Head, or even McDonalds right up the road might be better!

Ice cream! All the ice cream flavors are Hershey’s flavors.
My mom ordered the chocolate raspberry, her boyfriend got the mint chocolate chip, and I had the salted caramel. My mom’s ice cream was the best.
You can sample as many flavors as you’d like. One scoop gives you a shick ton of creamy goodness to lick.
I can tell that the other patrons eat a lot of ice cream because they are really heavy.

I work at Savage Mill at the Paul Mitchell Focus Salon in the Cotton Shed bldg. I met Karen at a woman’s night that the mill was hosting and had a cupcake… I fell in love instantly! She has been very accommodating to my food allergies. I would have to bring my lunch/​dinner everyday!!! Now I know I can count on them to feed me. I’ve had the Grilled Chicken club SEVERAL times! I also like her healthy alternatives… like the chicken and strawberry salad! So yummy! Their Captain Crunch Chicken strips are also AMAZING!!!
I always recommend that the guests we have at the salon go there for a tasty treat!!!

I am really torn on what to rate this place. I am thinking 1.75 so I round to 2. It was called whatchamacallit in a former life which had solid, if uninspired, food but featured amazing service. The factory grill was recommended by my daughter and her fiancée so we loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly… no, wait, we loaded up the van and went for breakfast on Saturday.
As we walked up I was impressed with the change in the décor. It is a very interesting mix of farmhouse and industrial styles. It looks very clean and inviting with the steel accents to remind you that you are in a factory. I anticipated great things.
This is when reality stepped up and sucker punched me in the eye. We stand at the register to place and order and we wait. The girl that works there walks by and says nothing, goes to make tea for the other customer, it takes her quite a long time and she says nothing. She walks back past us and says «I will be right with you», then she goes and has a chat with the other customer. Eventually she comes back to take our order. I order the bacon, egg and cheese on a cinnamon raisin bagel, and a large coffee. My wife orders the same sandwich and a vanilla latte; no vanilla so she has mocha. My father orders the same sandwich and decaf; he is told they don’t serve decaf. (REALLY??) My son, being a teenage carnivore goes with the pizza burger and a coke.
The girl directs us to seats and tells us she will bring our drinks. So, we sit.
After a little wait she brings the drinks and tells me cream and sugar are at the counter. I go to the counter and there is sugar and a selection of artificial sweeteners, there is no cream or substitute and there is nothing to stir with. Basically 1 out of 4 drinks was correct, the other 3 had problems.
There is a very long wait for the food. The sandwiches are ready so we have to walk to the counter to get them; they smell good and look nice. I lift the top of the bagel for a peak and I see nice egg, a small bit of melted cheese and a single slice of ultra thin bacon broken in half to fake 2 slices. It was thin enough that I could see the cheese and the egg through it. All three of the breakfast sandwiches are the same. The burger is not out yet.
We eat, he waits. about 7 minutes later his burger comes out. The first thing I notice are the hand cut fries. The fries are GOOD. The pizza has a nice burger patty 5 (again super thin) slices of peperoni and about a teaspoon of marinara. The burger has a nice flavor, but the meat is a little over worked which is OK because it does mean they make their patty’s by hand.
The egg sandwich’s which were $ 6.95 each were over priced with the corners cut on cheese and bacon. I work and Kensington (North Bethesda) and could have paid that at Izes and it would have a big thick slab of bacon and a good amount of cheese. At Peters Grill I could have the same sandwich on white bread for $ 2, also with better bacon and cheese.
The burger was also slightly over priced at about $ 10, but the fires and the burger itself make it close to reasonable. The lack of decaf is stupid. The absurdly slow service was a crime. They need to hire the girl that worked at Whatchamacallit; she took orders, did some cooking, and delivered the food quickly and to the table with many more customers to deal with.
To sum it up it isn’t hopeless, but it needs to improve. $ 42 is a lot for a quick breakfast of mediocre sandwiches and a decent burger. The service is the giant failure.