On Tuesday, Woodmont Grill abruptly closed, surprising many longtime patrons and marking the end of one of Bethesda’s most established restaurants.
The restaurant, located at 7715 Woodmont Avenue and formerly known as Houston’s, posted a message on its website announcing the immediate closure: “Woodmont Grill is now closed. Thank you for choosing us as a dining destination and allowing us to be a part of your lives with many fond memories of good food and cheer. We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again at one of our other restaurants.”
A fixture in downtown Bethesda for decades, the restaurant transitioned from Houston’s to Woodmont Grill in 2008 but continued offering its popular menu of American classics, including its Hawaiian ribeye, rotisserie chicken, burgers, prime rib, and live jazz performances. Known for polished service and a consistently busy dining room, it remained a popular spot for business lunches, family meals, and date nights. Hillstone Restaurant Group, which owns Woodmont Grill, no longer has locations in Maryland.
According to Axios, Hillstone cited several operational challenges that contributed to the decision, including reduced parking access over the years and ongoing difficulties maintaining staffing levels that met the company’s standards. The group explained that after evaluating where to allocate its resources, it chose to shift focus to its other restaurants nationwide.
