Friday, May 17, 2013
Restaurant news from around the county and adjacent DC neighborhoods.
Get caught up with the food scene in Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods with 1 Meat, 3 Sides. This week, the closure of a popular seafood restaurant that recently celebrated its 90th year takes center plate. One meat: O'Donnell's Sea Grill—which recently celebrated its 90th year in the Washington, DC, area—announced on its Facebook page that this year will be its last, Gaithersburg Patch reported. "...[We] have made the purposeful decision to officially close our doors and exit on a most high note," the restaurant stated. The restaurant originally opened in DC, at 1207 E St. NW, in 1922. In the second half of the 20th century, a Bethesda location was opened, and the DC locations (by then there were two) were …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The trio of tacos—Korean barbecue, carnitas pork and Havana chicken—will be available for a limited time, starting on Monday, May 20.
California Tortilla's fans have voted, and now there's a new option available on the eatery's menu: "Street Tacos." The new menu item—chosen by CalTort fans in an online NCAA-style "Elito 8" competition last March—will be available for a limited time, starting on May 20, according to a CalTort news statement. "Street Tacos" will be served as a trio of three mini tacos, each mini taco made with a soft corn tortilla shell: The taco trio is $6.49. A combo—the three tacos plus a 22-ounce drink and a choice of chips and queso, salsa or rice and beans—is $8.69.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Ri Ra closes in September because of rent issues, and Max Brenner and Panera Bread are opening soon in Bethesda.
Irish pub Ri Ra will close in September because of rent issues, Bethesda Magazine reported. The rent is too high for the restaurant to continue operating in its Bethesda location, and the upcoming opening of a Ri Ra pub in Georgetown is a coincidence, manager Paul Turner told Patch. Ri Ra currently has 12 locations across the country—from Vermont to Kentucky, according to its website. *** The anticipated opening of Max Brenner in Bethesda is getting closer. The restaurant will have its soft opening on June 13, a restaurant spokesperson told Patch. Unlike the chocolate chain's locations in New York City, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Boston, Bethesda Row's new Max Brenner won't be a full-service restaurant but a sweets-only shop, Bethesda …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Food inspection results are supplied by Data Montgomery and the Montgomery County Department of Health.
Three Montgomery County restaurants inspected by Montgomery County's Licensure and Regulatory Services Program had violations that caused the establishments to close for a time in April, according to Data Montgomery. Data Montgomery reports the results of all inspections of food establishments in the county. Businesses may be cited for a number of violations, although only a select few require immediate closure and correction. A lack of hot water is the most common cause of closures, said Ken Welch, program manager for the Office of Licensure and Regulatory Services. Most businesses are able to reopen the same day.
Friday, May 10, 2013
With Friday morning's ribbon-cutting ceremony, the gaping vacancy in the middle of the upscale shopping block, The Collection at Chevy Chase, was filled.
Friendship Heights' newest restaurant—Mi Cocina—opened on Friday with a 10:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. The upscale Tex-Mex restaurant opened in the former M Cafe/Famoso/Piazza Sempione spot, which shuttered unexpectedly on April 19, 2011, Patch reported. The space has been vacant since then. Mi Cocina is located in The Collection at Chevy Chase (5471-5481 Wisconsin Ave.), between Christian Dior and Bulgari. It's open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Attending Friday's ribbon-cutting ceremony were Max Sagatizado, general manager of Chevy Chase's Mi Cocina restaurant; David Smith, president and CEO of The Chevy Chase Land Company; Del. Susan Lee (D-District 16); Lindsay Camacho, representative for Rep. Christopher Van Hollen (D-…
Restaurant news from around Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods.
Get caught up with the food scene in Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods with 1 Meat, 3 Sides. This week, a new Tex-Mex restaurant on the 'Rodeo Drive of the East Coast' takes center plate. One meat: On Friday, Chevy Chase's newest restaurant, Mi Cocina, opened in the middle of the ritzy Wisconsin Avenue shopping block, The Collection at Chevy Chase (5471-5481 Wisconsin Ave.)—also known as the 'Rodeo Drive of the East Coast.' Mi Cocina is a popular upscale Tex-Mex chain that opened 20 years ago in Dallas. Its Chevy Chase location has one-of-a-kind art, a lofty private dining room and an outdoor dining space. Flanking Mi Cocina are Christian Dior and Bulgari—making it ideal for those who work up big appetites …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The new restaurant in The Collection at Chevy Chase will feature traditional Tex-Mex food in elegant surroundings decorated with one-of-a-kind artworks.
Come Friday, the vacant space next to Christian Dior on Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights no longer will be vacant. Mi Cocina will open at 11 a.m. Friday at The Collection at Chevy Chase (5471-5481 Wisconsin Ave.). Its ribbon-cutting ceremony (at 10:30 that morning) will be attended by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-District 18) and Sen. Brian Frosh (D- District 16). The restaurant is the latest location for a popular Tex-Mex chain that originated in Dallas, TX, more than 20 years ago. Management saw the Chevy Chase area as a good place for growth, a restaurant spokesperson told Patch. Mi Cocina's menu focuses on traditional Tex-Mex dishes made with fresh ingredients. On the menu: classics like tacos "de brisket" and fajitas, as well as …
Friday, May 3, 2013
Restaurant news from around Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods.
Get caught up with the food scene in Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods with 1 Meat, 3 Sides. This week, the closure of two popular Bethesda businesses takes center plate. One meat: Bethesda tea shop Zen Tara Tea is shutting down operations later this month, citing the sluggish economy, disruptive construction nearby and the loss of nearby parking as the main reasons for closing up shop, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch reported. Nearby, Ri Ra, an Irish pub in downtown Bethesda, will close in early September. "The popular gathering spot, which opened 10 years ago, is not renewing its lease, confirmed bar manager Paul Corey," Bethesda Magazine reported. Three sides: The popular Korean food truck Seoul Food DC will …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The event also celebrates the 75th birthday of the historic theater building in Bethesda.
The historic theater building in which the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club recently opened turns 75 this year. To celebrate the supper club's March 1 opening and the building's 75th birthday, a "Grand Re-Opening" ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 6 p.m. on May 17. After the ceremony, reception, cocktails and dinner (at 7:15 p.m.), jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis will take the stage at 8:30 p.m., according to a news release from the venue. Tickets for the evening are available through the Bethesda Blues & Jazz website (www.bethesdabluesjazz.com) and at the box office (7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda), open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club offers live music, monthly dance nights and a …
The loss of nearby parking also was cited as a reason for closing up shop.
Bethesda tea shop Zen Tara Tea is shutting down operations later this month, citing the sluggish economy, disruptive construction nearby and the loss of nearby parking as the main reasons for closing up shop. Zen Tara Tea, which has operated at 4710 Bethesda Ave. for four years, "is not going bankrupt, isn't closing in the middle of the night leaving employees and creditors in a lurch, not asking for a bailout—we've lived up to all our responsibilities," according to a shop statement. "Talking with our staff and our landlord over the past month, ultimately we decided it was best to maintain our integrity and close this chapter of our tea adventure with our heads held high." The shop's last day will be May 26. "For now, we're going on a tea…
Eric S.
3:40 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
Had no idea BD's closed. But Panera? Really? Ugh. The reason I leave Friendship Heights to go eat in Bethesda is because of the relative lack of bland uber-chains. more ›