The Eater DC “38 Best Restaurants Around DC” list offers a selection of defining culinary destinations that showcase DC and its suburbs. Six restaurants in Maryland are currently included in the Fall 2026 edition of the list, last updated October 8, with five of them located in Montgomery County.
2Fifty Texas BBQ (4700 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park): 2Fifty refers to itself as simple, affordable, and memorable. According to the restaurant, 2Fifty BBQ is known for its approach to traditional American barbecue, with a style deeply rooted in the Texas barbecue tradition and an emphasis on smoking meats over low heat for extended periods. Visit the restaurant website here.
Aventino (4747 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda): Aventino opened in January 2024 and has created a buzz with its vibrant and traditional Roman cuisine. The Cappalletti was named our very own Mr. MoCo’s “favorite dish in MoCo” last May. The menu consists of antipasti, pasta and more by chef Mike Friedman, an Olney resident, along with classic cocktails including a selection of spritzes and negronis, in a warm and inviting setting that can hold more than 100 guests. Visit the restaurant website here.
Cielo Rojo (7211 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park): Menu items include California-inspired traditional Mexican cuisine such as tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and a variety of small plates (platos pequeños) and entrees (platos grandes). Owners David Perez and Carolina McCandless first met in 2012 at Gracias Madre, a vegan Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. McCandless has ties to the area, as she’s from Takoma Park and her parents own nearby Amano. Cielo Rojo opened in Takoma Park in 2019. Visit the restaurant website here.
J. Hollinger’s Waterman’s Chophouse (8606 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring): The chef-driven chophouse and fresh seafood spot opened in 2022 from Montgomery County restaurateur and caterer Jerry Hollinger, also of The Daily Dish and Dish & Dram. In addition to its dinner options, this past summer the restaurant kicked off a lavish Sunday brunch buffet featuring house-made items such as slow-roasted ribeye with fresh herbs and garlic, hot honey fried chicken, house-cured gravlax, crab-stuffed deviled eggs, brioche French toast with local berries, and frittata with local eggs, cherry tomatoes, basil, candy onions and fontina. Visit the restaurant website here.
Ruta (7141 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda): Ruta opened its Bethesda location in 2024, bringing the Ukrainian restaurant to Montgomery County after first establishing itself on Capitol Hill. The menu features traditional Ukrainian dishes with modern touches, including borscht, chicken Kyiv, meat-filled cabbage and varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings) with fillings ranging from cherries to crab. Eater highlighted Ruta’s takes on those Ukrainian staples, along with its hearty entrees served with sauerkraut. The Bethesda restaurant is Ruta’s second location. Visit the restaurant website here.
Motorkat (6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park): Motorkat is an award-winning neighborhood restaurant and raw bar led by chef Danny Wells that has become a popular Takoma Park spot for happy hour, fresh local oysters and cocktails. The menu offers a wide variety of seafood, sandwiches, pasta and wood-grilled dishes, including a catfish po’boy, seafood stew, mojo-braised pork Cubano, wood-grilled steaks and garlic focaccia. Eater also highlighted the restaurant’s seasonal offerings, including house-made potato gnocchi with brown butter, fresh sage and local mushrooms, as well as its bloody mary oyster shooter made with a house-made mix. Visit the restaurant website here.
