Tia Queta, a longtime staple of Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, held its final day of service on Saturday, January 31.
Earlier this month, the restaurant shared the news in a message to customers, thanking the community for decades of support and memories. “Forty five years ago, Tia Queta Restaurant opened its doors in the quiet Woodmont Triangle of Bethesda,” the message read. Tia Queta has been a fixture in Bethesda since opening around 1980, serving generations of diners and becoming known for its welcoming atmosphere and traditional Mexican cuisine. Over the decades, it has been a gathering place for family celebrations, casual meals, and longtime regulars who returned year after year.
Owner Roberto Montesinos’ path to opening Tia Queta began after graduating from American University. According to a 2019 interview with Bethesda Magazine, he worked at several local restaurants, including the former Rio Grande on Rockville Pike, before opening his own spot in Bethesda. In the early 1990s, a pivotal moment helped secure the restaurant’s long-term future when the building’s landlord, who was ill at the time, offered to sell the property to the couple.
The building was sold to new owner Nimi Chhina LLC, headed by Mantej Chhina, who paid $2.1 million for the 3,472 square foot building, according to Maryland Newsletters. Chhina was based in Dover, Delaware.
