Below is a list of restaurants that have opened in Montgomery County, MD so far in 2023!
Andy’s Pizza – Bethseda
Andy’s Pizza is now open at 4600 East West Highway– the former site of sandwich shop Booeymonger in Bethesda. The pizza dough undergoes a 72-hour cold ferment and is cooked in a New York deck oven. The process creates a crispier crust with a chewy interior, and a hint of a sour flavor. Andy’s Pizza will also offers salads, wings, fries, and more. Last year Andy’s got 1st place in the International Pizza Challenge™, which has evolved and grown in stature and prize money to become one of the most prestigious pizza-making competition in North America.  Andy’s Pizza also has locations in Adams Morgan, NoMa, Navy Yard, and Shaw in DC, with an additional NoVa location at Tysons. Another upcoming location is planned for Old Town Alexandria. Owner Andy Brown, who grew up in Bethesda, stated that he had been looking in the area since his restaurant began expanding. According to Business Journal, “The Bethesda location will also have more space than average — its other locations run roughly 1,800 square feet — to accommodate larger parties.”

Antojitos Salvadoreños Isabel – Montgomery Village 
Antojitos Salvadoreños Isabel at 19114 Montgomery Village Ave opened on Friday, August 25. The restaurant is located in the former Einstein Bagel Bros spot in the Montgomery Village Shopping Center. The restaurant will serve traditional Salvadorian dishes like pupusas, tamales, yuca con chicharron, and pastelitos. Einstein Bros closed its Montgomery Village store in December 2021. La Poteria, which sells Colombian street food and coffee, is located next door.

Asian Cuisine and Seafood – Gaithersburg
Asian Cuisine and Seafood is now open at 8035 Snouffer School Rd in Gaithersburg, the former site of China King.  Menu items includes “bangin wings with DC mumbo sauce,” traditional Chinese carry-out options like Beef with Broccoli and General Tso’s Chicken, and seafood combination platters with Snow Crab Legs, Crawfish, and Mussels.  Asian Cuisine and Seafood is located between 7-Eleven and El Salvadoran restaurant El Encanto in the Horizon Center shopping center.

Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon- Gaithersburg
Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon combination restaurantis now open at 220 Boardwalk Place in Rio, taking over the location that was recently home to Lilly Magilly’s– as the cupcakery is still preparing for a move to a new location. The two brands, popular for their presence in malls, are co-branding to open locations across the country. In recent years, Cinnabon left then returned to Montgomery Mall. There’s also an existing Cinnabon location in Wheaton Mall. Auntie Anne’s has locations at the outlets in Clarksburg, Ellsworth Place Mall, Montgomery Mall, and Wheaton Mall in MoCo.

B2J Fish Soup – Gaithersburg
B2J, which specializes in traditional Szechuan-style fish soup, is now open at 9629 Lost Knife Rd in the Montgomery Village Crossing shopping center in Gaithersburg. The menu include a variety of soups where you choose the broth flavor, protein, and add-ons, including tilapia, bass, and Waygu beef. B2J has additional locations in New Jersey, Texas, and Washington State.

Baked Potato House – Clarksburg 
Baked Potato House, featuring “delicious stuffed potatoes”, is now open in the Clarksburg Premium Outlets, taking over the space that was previously home to Day & Night Cereal Bar. The cereal bar cleared out of the space in May and is expected to open in a new location sometime this summer. Menu items at Baked Potato House include a “build your own” stuffed potato with toppings such as cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, gyro meat, broccoli, olives, sweet corn, and a variety of sauces, a selection of specialty baked potatoes, ice cream, and lemonade. The menu also features “wet burgers,” an Istanbul-style street burger that has been marinated in a special tomato sauce.

Barra Brava Cevicheria – Rockville (opens October 21)
Back in February we let you know that Barra Brava Cevicheria Peruana was “coming soon” to the location that was previously home to Old Hickory Grill at 15420 Old Columbia Pike B in Burtonsville. The restaurant recently announced that it will open its second location on Saturday, October 21st from 12pm until 12am. Barra Brava opened its first location at 15921 N Frederick Rd in Rockville in October of 2017. The menu consists of seafood entrees, a variety of ceviches, non-seafood entrees like lomo saltado, aji de gallina, and more.

Baskin Robbins – Potomac
Baskin Robbins opened at 1079 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac Woods Plaza in the space that was previously home to Ibhana Creations. Last February, Baskin Robbins closed its doors at Cabin John Village and announced its plans to open in the nearby Potomac Woods Plaza shopping center. Baskin Robbins was replaced in Cabin John Village by The Scoop, which was opened this past August by Timothy and Mitch Ryoo– Potomac natives and Winston Churchill High School Graduates (2010 and 2006). Baskin Robbins will also be opening a location later this year in the Montgomery Village Center. 

Bento Teryaki & Sushi Express – Silver Spring
Bento Express opened earlier this summer in the Woodmoor Shopping Center at 10141 Colesville Road in Silver Spring. The fast-casual restaurant is located in the space that was formerly home to Sprint, between the UPS Store and Subway. Menu items include teryaki (chicken, beef, shrimp, & salmon), bento boxes, poke bowls, dumplings, and a variety of sushi rolls. According to the restaurant, “Bento Express Restaurant offers authentic and delicious-tasting Japanese cuisine in Silver Spring, MD. Bento Express’ convenient location and affordable prices make our restaurant a natural choice for eat-in or take-out meals in the Silver Spring community. Our restaurant is known for its variety of tastes and high-quality fresh ingredients. Come and experience our friendly atmosphere and excellent service.”

Black Diamond Restaurant & Lounge – Silver Spring
Black Diamond Restaurant & Lounge opened in the space that was formerly home to TTT and Buena Vida at 8407 Ramsey Ave in Silver Spring on January 26.The restaurant is described as an “Afro fusion restaurant and lounge.”

Black Lion Café – Silver Spring
Black Lion Café opened at 8240 Fenton St in Silver Spring in January. The cafe opened its first location at the Traville Gateway shopping center in late 2016. Black Lion Café sources its coffee from three regions of Ethiopia known for producing some of the best tasting coffee beans in the world. Keffa, the region of Ethiopia that gave the name ‘coffee’ to the bean, Yergacheffe, and Harrar.

BooBoo Pho – Montgomery Village
BooBoo Pho is now open at 19230 Montgomery Village Ave. in the Montgomery Village Shopping Center.  Menu items include spring rolls, Pho (noodle soup), sandwiches, vermicelli bowls, salads, and stir fry.

Brew House Kentlands – Gaithersburg
Brew House Kentlands at 325 Main Street in Gaithersburg will opened on March 4. Per its logo, it touts itself as being the “best coffee shop in Kentlands.” Brew House Kentlands is taking over the previous home of Clear Skies Meadery, which has opened its new meadery at 15201 Display Ct in Rockville. In addition to coffee, the menu also features beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as breakfast and lunch options.

Butter Chicken House – Bethesda
Butter Chicken House is now open in Montgomery Mall. The restaurant is located in the space that was recently home to Ya Mon! Island Grill, next door to Chick-Fil-A. Ya Mon Island Grill closed over the summer. According to its website, “Butter chicken, also known as “Murgh Makhani,” is a mouthwatering and beloved dish in Indian cuisine. It’s a rich and flavorful dish that combines tender pieces of chicken with a creamy and aromatic tomato-based sauce. The flavors are a perfect balance of savory, creamy, tangy, and mildly spicy, making it an absolute delight for the taste buds.” Menu items at Butter Chicken House include butter chicken, tofu, shrimp, and lamb, either over rice or as a wrap.

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Capo Italian Deli – Potomac 
Capo Italian Deli is now open in Cabin John Village, taking over the location that was previously home to Goldberg’s New York Bagels, which closed last year, at 7731 Tuckerman Lane. The menu includes Italian classics like Chicken Parmigiano, Hot Italian Beef, Prosciutto & Provolone, and more. The Italian delicatessen was previously available for carryout and delivery in Montgomery County out of sister restaurant Brickside Food & Drink (4866 Cordell Ave) in Bethesda. The deli’s first location opened at 715 Florida Ave in NW, DC.  Using a a prohibition style speakeasy gimmick, the deli used their old school Italian deli as a “front” to it’s back bar. Capo gained attention in the area in the summer of 2020 for their popular “Fauci Pouchy” carryout cocktails. The deli has since opened a Western Market location and has a Tyson’s Corner location coming soon.

Charlie’s Pizza and Subs – Derwood
Charlie’s Pizza and Subs has taken over the restaurant that was previously known as Sam’s Pizza & Subs at 15855 Redland Rd (off of Frederick Rd) in Derwood. While the sale became official as of Wednesday March 14, 2023, the restaurant operated as Sam’s until March 29, 2023 when the name changed to Charlie’s. After 2.5 months. The restaurant received approval for the final change– the official signage. The updates come with a new name and new hours. Charlie’s will be open daily and will serve beer and wine for dine-in and carry out. The restaurant is currently working on delivery of beer and wine as well. The new menu offers many of the selections currently on the Sam’s menu as well as fresh wraps (chicken, shrimp, Caeser), Maryland crab cakes, and more.

Charley Prime Foods – Gaithersburg
Charley Prime Foods, the new restaurant from Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks (Little Coco’s, El Chucho, Bar Charley, Quarry House Tavern) is now open on the Rio Lakefront boardwalk at 9811 Washington Blvd in Gaithersburg. Charley Prime features an extensive steak menu that includes filet mignon, New York strip, and a 36oz Tomahawk ribeye, as well as house made pastas and sandwiches like the Roasted Lamb French Dip. Additional details: Acclaimed DC restaurateurs Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks (Little Coco’s, El Chucho, Bar Charley, Quarry House Tavern) will open Charley Prime Foods, a modern American restaurant, on May 12 at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. Chef/Partner Adam Harvey, long time Executive Chef with Greenbaum & Banks, will helm the kitchen, along with Russell Pike, currently the Chef de Cuisine at Little Coco’s. Located in the former Tara Thai space (9811 Washingtonian Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD), the restaurant will be centrally positioned on the boardwalk. The space will seat roughly 90 inside, with another 100 on an expansive patio, complete with lake views. Editlab@Streetsense designed the space.

Charleys Cheeseteaks & Wings – Aspen Hill & Germantown
Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings has opened Montgomery County locations this year at:
19877 Century Blvd, Germantown
20910 Frederick Rd, Germantown (Walmart)
13617 Connecticut Ave, Hill

The Charmery – Chevy Chase
Baltimore-Based ice cream shop The Charmery opened its newest location at 8551 Connecticut Ave, Suite 202, in Chevy Chase. According to a press release, “The Charmery’s first location opened in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood in 2013. Since then, husband and wife team David and Laura Alima, have opened three additional locations in Towson, Columbia, and The Union Collective. The Charmery has quickly become not only a Baltimore mainstay, but also an East Coast destination for super premium, highly original, and insanely delicious ice cream. Since opening, they have won numerous Best of Baltimore awards and recently Thrillest named them one of the 40 best ice cream shops in America. This will be their first location in the DC area with the aim to bring together the local and global communities to help every person achieve happiness through ice cream.

Chicken Basket – Gaithersburg
Chicken Basket at 30 N. Summit Ave. in Olde Towne Gaithersburg has reopened. The restaurant, which first opened in 1978, closed in April 2019 after a fire. Chicken Basket’s menu consist of fried chicken, wings, subs, gyros, salads, wraps, burgers, and seafood. The restaurant is open Mon – Thurs 11am to 8pm, Fri – Sat 11am to 9pm and closed on Sunday. Full menu can be seen below, as well as photos from Chicken Basket’s original 1978 menu.

Chef Tony’s at Amalfi – Rockville
In November we let you know that longtime MoCo restaurant Amalfi Ristorante Italiano at 12307 Wilkins Ave in Rockville was bought by the owners of Chef Tony’s Restaurant in Bethesda. The restaurant, now known as Chef Tony’s at Amalfi, reopened in January.  The menu features a rotation of “Amalfi Classics”, many starters, tapas, salads, and pastas, and a variety of seafood entrees. The promenade location at Pooks Hill in Bethesda is now ‘Chef Tony’s Italian Kitchen’ and most of their seafood menu has moved over to Chef Tony’s at Amalfi. The restaurant is currently only open for dinner service. Additional information can be found via the Facebook page.

Chick-Fil-A – Gaithersburg 
Chick-Fil-A has opened a new location at 700 N. Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg. The restaurant is located in the new Progress Labs, a 44-acre property that directly fronts I-270 at the Montgomery Village Avenue exit. Progress Labs will also be home to Montgomery County’s first Sheetz, which is expected to open on August 10.

Chicken On The Run – Bethesda 
Chicken on the Run, a Peruvian chicken restaurant located 4933 St Elmo Ave in Bethesda, has reopened in the same location after a closure that lasted over a year. The restaurant announced what seemed to be a permanent closure in April 2022, writing “SORRY, AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS WE ARE CLOSING OUR BUSINESS DUE TO THE LANDLORD NOT RENEWING OUR LEASE.” The restaurant first opened its doors in 2002 and reopened earlier this month. Chicken on the Run opens at 11am daily and closes at 9pm every day except for Sundays, when it closes at 7:30pm.

Citizens & Culture – Silver Spring
Kaldi’s Social House founder Tsega Haile has opened Citizens & Culture at 8113 Georgia Ave – a 15,000 square feet, multi-level fine dining and live DJ and band performance venue located on the border of downtown Silver Spring and Washington, DC. In addition to fine-dining, the music venue brings a unique concept to the DC-area featuring a ground-floor front patio for outdoor seating leading into an expansive, vaulted ceiling main dining room with full length bar and an exclusive new menu by Executive Chef Ryan Hackney (DC-based chef known for appearances on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and Bite Club) and Chief Chef Consultant and Director for Kaldi’s Social House Jessica Shields.

Colony Grill – Potomac
Colony Grill, a popular Connecticut Pizza restaurant offering “bar pies” opened its newest location today at t 11325 Seven LocksRoad in Potomac’s Cabin John Village. Pricing for Colony Grill’s pies range from $10.50 to $13.50 with options for adding additional toppings or gluten–free crust. The menu also features a “salad pie,” as well as a breakfast pie that features a choice of bacon or sausage, egg, and cheese and is available all day. 

Crave Cafe – Silver Spring
Crave Cafe is now open at 1200 East-West Highway in Silver Spring, according to a report by Source of the Spring.  The coffee shop is located in the space previously occupied by Bump ‘n Grind, which closed in May 2021. Menu items include 16 different blends of coffee, breakfast sandwiches, muffins/bread, soups, paninis, and salads.  The restaurant is part of Jeffeary Miskiri’s Miskiri Hospitality Group, which describes itself as a unique collective of Black, family and woman-owned products and restaurants in the DC area. According to its website, “Situated in the popular and vivacious Downtown Silver Spring, Crave Cafe will offer a lively, energetic, classy comfortable, and intimate environment. We looking forward to serving local coffee blends as well as a selection of healthy food choices to families, the college communities, and the workforce that frequent the area!”

Cuppa Tea – Rockville
Cuppa Tea has opened a Rockville location at 1112 Taft Street. The shop offers Hong Kong-style milk tea and is a popular brand with over 800 locations worldwide. Cuppa Tea made its U.S. debut when it opened in late 2021 in New York’s Flushing and Queens and Prince George’s County’s College Park. In addition to Hong Kong-style milk tea, Cuppa Tea offers Taiwanese food like bento boxes, egg waffles, curry balls, and more. To order at the Rockville location, you can download Cuppa Tea app where you are accumulate reward points (for free drinks and more) or visit the Cuppa Tea website, select the Rockville location, and place your order. You can also order on delivery plate forms such as Chowbus and Fantuan (UberEats and DoorDash will be available soon). Cuppa Tea is currently offering Buy 3 get 1 drink free on its app. Currently, the shop is only accepting online phone orders only (no walk-ins). Their phone number is 301-201-5777, and business hours are Mon – Sun 11am until 7pm (closed on Tuesday).

Daboba (Bubble Tea) – Rockville
Daboba held its grand opening at 1079 Rockville Pike in Rockville’s Talbott Center on Saturday, July 8th . The bubble tea shop was established in early 2018 in Taiwan and is now based in Malaysia.

Dalia’s Falafel – Bethesda 
Dalia’s Falafel has opened its first brick and mortar location at 7750 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. Dalia’s opened up as a pop-up restaurant at 4223 Howard Avenue in Kensington back in August 2020 serving falafel pita sandwiches and falafel bowls. New items on the menu will include radishes, french fries, rice,  and Moroccan beef kabobs (full menu below.) The Kensington pop up will close once the Bethesda location opens. Last year, the local “Yelp MD Burbs” part of Yelp released its list of “Top 25 Places to Eat in MD Burbs” list and 15 of the 25 restaurants on the list are in Montgomery County, including Dalia’s Falafel, which came in at #21. Yelp is a popular company that publishes crowd-sourced reviews about businesses with a major focus on restaurants.

Damso Korean BBQ – Rockville 
Damso Korean BBQ is now open in the space previously occupied by Saffron Indian Cuisine at Woodmont Station in Rockville (1319 Rockville Pike).  According to the restaurant, ” Damso is the second restaurant of DANJI in Centreville, VA, which is famous among Koreans for its commitment to serving authentic Korean flavors. We share that same commitment while also offering a unique dining experience. While DANJI is dedicated exclusively to serving authentic Korean dishes, at Damso we offer a menu that includes the same classic Korean flavors as DANJI Korean restaurant, with the addition of our signature Korean BBQ. We believe that food is not just about nourishment, but also about bringing people together. That’s why we take pride in providing warm and welcoming service to each and every one of our guests. Whether you’re a Korean food enthusiast or trying Korean cuisine for the first time, we welcome you to come experience the best of Korean flavors at Damso.”

Downtown Brew’s
“Downtown Brew’s” opened at 5751 Fishers Lane in Rockville on January 26th at the former site of Downtown Beer and Wine. According to the store, “We have on and off premise service so people can come here and enjoy a glass of wine and beer or take them with them.” “Downtown Brew’s” will also offer beer and wine home delivery services and plans to eventually offer charcuteries, gourmet toast and coffee. 
Dunkin’- Silver Spring & Montgomery Village
Dunkin’ is now open at 14328 Layhill Road in Silver Spring and at 20000 Goshen Rd. (former Capital One Bank building) in the Goshen Crossing Shopping Center. Both restaurants held grand opening events where the first 100 customers with “Free Coffee for a Year”.

Eerkin’s Uyghur Cuisine – Rockville (Reopening) 
Eerkin’s Uyghur Cuisine has reopened in its new Rockville location at 6 N Washington Street in Rockville’s Courthouse Center, at the former home of Amici Miei. It was previously located at 1701 Rockville Pike # B1 in The Shops at Congressional Village, which recently auctioned for $44 million. Eerkin’s announced a temporary closure following a kitchen fire that occurred at the restaurant on Mother’s Day last year. Soon after, the restaurant posted a message on social media on announcing a temporary closure, “Dear Loyal Eerkins Customers our Rockville, Location is currently closed until further notice please visit our running locations in Washington DC and Fairfax Virginia thank you for your support ”

Flames & Crepes – Rockville (food truck)
Flames & Crepes, a new halal food truck, recently opened at 801 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Owner Ashraf Said is originally from Egypt and has been a MoCo resident for over 18 years. He is bringing years of experience in restaurant management. His fiancé Marelyn is originally from El Salvador and, also a MoCo resident. They tell us she “brings the flavors of Latin America to many of the foods offered.” The menu features a variety of dishes, including classic American fare like a steak and cheese, chicken sandwich, mango habanero wings, and more. Latin-American fare is also featured, such as yuca frita, pupusas, and tamales. They also offer a variety of crepes– both sweet and savory.

Frank’s Burgers – Wheaton
Frank’s Burgers opened its new location at 11230 Grandview Ave in Wheaton-Glenmont (former site of Umberto’s), on Saturday, October 14. Nicaraguan restaurant El Chante, which currently splits space with Frank’s Burger Place at 11265 Triangle Ln, will now take over that entire space. The new Grandview Ave location will be split into two restaurant concepts, with Frank’s on one side and District Bistro on the other, united by a kitchen in the back. According to owner Pedro Matamoros, District Bistro is a new American concept that is focused on “seasonality and use of local ingredients when permitted.” Menu items at District Bistro will include beef tartare, steak frites, roasted duck and lamb bolognaise, and its bar will focus on classic cocktails like Martinis and Manhattans. We will provide an opening date for District Bistro when it is announced.

Fruver – Wheaton
Fruver, a smoothie, coffee, and snack shop, is now open 11255 Grandview Avenue in Wheaton. It has taken over the space that was previously home to Asesoria Americana and Taxline Services. Fruver opened in late April and offers a variety of smoothies, smoothie bowls, fresh juices, coffee, and other snacks.

Good Ducking Burger – Bethesda 
Good Ducking Burger is now open, replacing Bethesda fine dining staple Duck Duck Goose (7929 Norfolk Ave.) Like its predecessor, Good Ducking Burger is owned and operated by French-trained chef Ashish Alfred.  Times change, tastes change, prices fluctuate and the one who chooses NOT to evolve is the one that sinks. For Duck Duck Goose Bethesda, it all came down to the numbers. Despite having a packed dining room most nights, the rising costs of doing business caused DDG Bethesda’s profit margin to plummet. While Alfred’s four other restaurants in Baltimore and DC are both spacious and busy, Bethesda was just busy. Cozy and intimate at about 1100 square feet total (counting interior and the seasonal outdoor patio), and unable to add any more seating, it became obvious that the business was just no longer sustainable as is and, according to Alfred, he was putting an increasingly unfair demand on his employees.
“Growth can be painful but it’s the right decision for the business,” says Alfred. “I can keep trying to make things work – I mean business is still good – but when it’s time to change, it’s time to change.” Good Ducking Burger isn’t completely a new concept. It has made wildly successful appearances at Alfred’s restaurants in Baltimore and DC as a delivery-only ghost kitchen, focusing on American classics like burgers, chicken and fries… all with a nod to Alfred’s Indian heritage.”

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Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles – Rockville
Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles at 389 E. Gude Dr in Rockville, next to the former Branded 72/O’Brien’s restaurant space, is now open. Grandma’s is owned and operated by the same owners as “Grandma Kona’s” Kona Ice franchise in Gaithersburg/Germantown. Additional information, as well as a $1 coupon, below:
“Grandma Kona is happy to announce that Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles will be opening on Monday January 23, 2023!  We will be opening for breakfast at 7am till 1030am then transitioning to a great lunch till 2pm. The ice cream and waffles dessert menu will be available until 9pm. Offering liege waffles sandwiches with a variety of options including Vegan! Grandma’s Ice Cream will be an experience like non other.  Soft serve ice cream with unbelievable flavor (including dairy free options) with Grandma’s twist of injecting flavor into the ice cream and if wanted dipped in chocolate or caramel. Come use your imagination with all the different combinations you can make.”

Hangry Joe’s Montgomery Village
Hangry Joe’s is now open in the Montgomery Village Shopping Center.  The Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant is located adjacent to the Starbuck’s at 19290 Montgomery Village Ave.  Hangry Joe’s in know for its hot chicken sandwiches, known as the “Chicken Sando”, and allows guests to choose the spice level of the fried chicken (Plain<Mild<Medium<Hot<Angry Hot). The menu also consists of chicken fingers, chicken & waffles, wraps, nuggets, loaded fries, and salads. Sides include cider slaw, waffle fries, and fried okra. Hangry Joe’s has additional Montgomery County locations in Wheaton (2533 Ennals Ave) and Rockville (718-B Rockville Pike and 10050 Darnestown Rd.)

Hong Kong Pearl- Gaithersburg 
Hong Kong Pearl is now open in the Walnut Hill Shopping Center, taking over the location that has been home to New Fortune at 16515 S Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg. New Fortune has operated in Gaithersburg for many years and the dim sum restaurant, known for having over 140 different offerings.
Isaac’s Poultry Market – Gaithersburg
Isaac’s Poultry Market at 12167 Darnestown Rd in Gaithersburg, the former site of Pizza Hut, opened on February 23. The restaurant was opened by Rob Gresham, a lifelong MoCo resident and the former Director of Operations at CAVA and features American roasted chicken, wings, sandwiches, and salads. 

Japong Bakery – Rockville 
Japong Bakery, which opened at 785 Rockville Pike in the Ritchie Center nearly five years ago in October 2018, closed temporarily on April 17th with a plan to reopen  approximately three weeks later at its new location at 765 A Rockville Pike within the same shopping center. After a bit of a delay, the bakery held its soft opening on Sunday, July 16th.

Jersey Mike’s – Aspen Hill
Jersey Mike’s opened at the Northgate Plaza in Aspen Hill on February 15in the location that was formerly home to Body & Brain Tai Chi– between Dunkin’ and Roy Rogers. Jersey Mike’s was founded as Mike’s Submarines in Point Pleasant, New Jersey in 1956. Peter Cancro started working at the restaurant in 1968 when he was 14 and the shop was on its third hour. Three years later the shop went up for sale again and with the help of a local high school football coach who was also a banker, Cancro was able to pull together $125,000 to buy it at age 17. He began to franchise the restaurant in 1987 and now has over 2,000 locations with various locations across Montgomery County, including in Burtonsville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Rockville, and Wheaton.

Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House – Germantown
Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House is now open at 19520 Waters Road Unit 5 in Germantown, taking over the location that was formerly home to Provisions Cafe closed in January 2022 after just over three years in Germantown. Ji Bei Chuan is a restaurant franchise based in China that was founded in 2018. In just five years it has become one of the fast growing noodle restaurants in China with over 400 locations across the country. There are now several locations in the United States (over 50 in the last two years) with the Germantown location being the first in Maryland. Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-9:30pm, and Sunday from 11:30am until 9pm (closed on Tuesdays). 

Jolloff Etcetera – White Oak 
Jolloff Etcetera recently opened at 11237 New Hampshire Avenue, which was the longtime home of Hunan Manor (there for 20 years by most recent ownership group) until it closed permanently in February 2022. The restaurant is located in the White Oak Shopping Center near Dollar City and Montgomery County liquor store. Jolloff Etcetera offers Nigerian cuisine and opened its first location in nearby Hyattsville, MD (Prince George’s County). The menu offers a variety of Nigerian cuisine, including Jolloff rice, grilled fish, fried rice, multiple soups, and more.

Kema by Kenaki – Potomac
The long awaited Kema by Kenaki began its soft opening phase on July 15 at 11325 Seven Locks Rd. STE 115 in Cabin John Village. The almost 2,000 square foot restaurant is  similar to what Kenaki in Kentlands offers, but is more “fast paced,” in what is a hybrid between Kenaki and AKO. Kenaki is a full-service restaurant while AKO is a sushi counter at a food hall. Kema will offer signature rolls from Kenaki/AKO such as the Black Magic roll- made with “forbidden rice”, spicy tuna, pickled jalapenos, and truffle oil, the Donkey Kong roll- made with eel, fried plantain, cream cheese, cucumber, tempura flakes, togarashi spice mayo, and sweet shoyu, among others.

Kentlands Baby Bar – Gaithersburg 
Kentlands Baby Bar is now open at 375 Main St. in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood. Carolynne Nowrouzi, founder/owner of Baby Bar, was raised in MoCo. She wanted to provide a space where parents can go with their young children to enjoy a space where they can each grab a bite and just play. The space will offer “food, fun, and socializing” where “you enjoy a coffee and a bite, while your little ones get yummy food and a baby-friendly place to play!” Baby Bar Kentlands will offer fresh fruits and veggies and will have options for babies (puréed or chopped), food for kids like grilled cheese, egg bites, croissants, and more, and food for adults like bagels, muffins, fruit bowls, and more.

Kobe Japan Hibachi & Sushi – Montgomery Village
Kobe Japan Hibachi & Sushi has opened at 19226 Montgomery Village Ave, next to Moe’s Southwest Grill in the Montgomery Village Center. Kobe Japan has additional Montgomery County locations at 1163 University Blvd E in Takoma Park and 13623 Georgia Ave. Suit A in Aspen Hill.  The menu features sushi, sashimi, spring rolls, bento boxes and hibachi

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot – Germantown
KPot is now open in the space previously occupied by Honey Pig at 19727 Frederick Rd #1337. Honey Pig closed permanently in November of 2021 after five years at the location. According to KPot, the restaurant was started by four friends from different backgrounds who decided to share their mixed cuisine over the same table. KPot combines traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors. Hot pot, also known as “soup-food” or “steamboat,” is a communal pot of simmering broth that is stuffed with raw ingredients like meat and vegetables to cook in the pot.

Kung Fu Tea- Olney
Kung Fu Tea is now open at 3128 Olney Sandy Spring Road, in the space that was recently home to Yogi Berry, next to Starbucks in the same shopping center as Cava Mezze, CVS, and Cafe Rio. The Olney Kung Fu Tea also offers TKK Fried Chicken and Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt. TKK Fried Chicken is a Taiwanese chain that specializes in fried chicken. They’ve been around since 1974 and have locations across Taiwan, China, and the United States. The menu consists of fried chicken, chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwiches, and more. Tutti is a frozen yogurt chain that has had several locations in Montgomery County.
Laperaux – Germantown
Laperaux, the Journeymanchef’s Bistro,  is now open at 18056 Mateny Rd in Germantown- the former home of Gumbo Ya Ya, Dickie’s BBQ Pit, and Cafe Mileto (located in the Cloppers Mill shopping center, in the same strip as Shoppers). The French bistro was opened by Chef Gregory Webb, who has earned such accolades and awards as “Chef of the Year 1998” in Houston, Texas, “Winner all Categories” at the Texas Open Wild Game Cookoff, “Top Chefs of Mexico City” and many others. The restaurant offers high casual cuisine created by Webb, who has competed against Bobby Flay on The Food Network, and won numerous ‘chopped style’ competitions put on for various local charity and fund raising events, including DC Central Kitchen’s Chefs Cook Off.

Lil’ Cakes & Creamery – Rockville
Lil’ Cakes & Creamery opened its newest location at 844 Rockville Pike, the former site of Sam’s Cafe & Market, on March 11. Lil’ Cakes & Creamery offers a rotating selection of cupcakes and ice cream, as well as macarons, pupcakes, cookies, cookie sandwiches, pushpops, and milkshakes. Lil’ Cakes & Creamery opened its first location in Gaithersburg Square back in October 2019 and have additional locations in Urbana and White Marsh.

Los Amigos – Gaithersburg
Los Amigos opened at 9631 Lost Knife Rd in Gaithersburg on February 14, at the former site of Texas Parillada Texas Parillada had a long run in the Montgomery Village Crossing shopping center, which is home to BLT Grill, Hook & Reel, and Roy Rogers. The restaurant offered menu items that included Tex-Mex staples like burritos, carne asada, enchiladas, and tacos.

Lum Thai – Gaithersburg
Lum Thai is now open in the Muddy Branch Square shopping center in Gaithersburg (video below).The Thai restaurant is located in the space previously occupied by Roggenart and Canela Bakery at 806 Muddy Branch Road. Other restaurants in Muddy Branch Square include First Watch, Paisano’s, and Royal Tandoor. According to its website, the Lum Thai is open daily from 11am until 9pm. The menu features a variety appetizers (all priced below $10), soups, salads, entrees/curries/noodles (all priced at $13.95), chef specialities  (going as high as $20), and desserts.

Mackie’s Barbecue Co. – Olney
Mackie’s Barbecue is now open at 5500 Olney Laytonsville Rd in Olney (most recently Umberto’s). The restaurant is in its soft opening phase with a limited menu for dine in, takeout, and delivery via DoorDash, Ubereats, and GrubHub. A preview and first look video is available below.
Per Mr. MoCo, “The restaurant features a beer cave, similar to the ones found at Shoppers grocery stores, and a wall of retail wine that features local vendors (a wide variety of beer and wine is coming soon, with some already there). The restaurant will also eventually have a full bar.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxtJHHpOnM3/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=85ca128a-ed3b-47d9-9953-af951d585a09

Margarita Bar & Grill – Germantown
Margarita Bar & Grill is now open at 19201 Frederick Rd in Germantown. The restaurant’s menu features a variety of tacos, burritos, chimichangas, pupusas, fajitas, steaks, salad, and seafood. Margarita options include Cadillac, Skinny, Flavored, Diablo, and Crazy. The restaurant is taking over the space that was previously occupied by the Fraternal Order of Eagle #3509 and Captain Mori’s Seafood House. Seafood in the Buff, a mobile steamed crab business, operates out of the parking lot next to this location in the summer months. Margaritas joins Mi Rancho (19725 Germantown Rd), Señor Tequila’s (20021 Century Blvd), La Gula (21030 Frederick Rd), Abi Azteca (11514 Middlebrook Rd), La Mexicana (13016 Middlebrook Rd), and Rio Grande (13541 Clopper Rd) as places to grab a margarita in Germantown.

Mastiha Bakery/Mastiha Taverna – Rockville
Mastiha Bakery, a Kensington favorite (formerly known as Baklava Couture) since 2015, is now openat 2387 Lewis Ave. In July, the restaurant launched Mastiha Taverna, a new food truck that is stationed in front of the bakery. According to Mastiha, the truck will serve pita sandwiches, Greek dessert, drinks, traditional salads, dips, and small bites/sides. Mastiha Taverna will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5-9pm. Per Mastiha Bakery: The word mastiha refers to the sap drippings, or “tears”, from the mastic tree which grows on the north-eastern Aegean Greek island of Chio, where founder and owner, Katerina Georgallas traces her origins. Founded in 2011 with a deep appreciation for heritage, culture, and scratch-made goodness, Mastiha Bakery specializes in assorted sweet and savory pastries, cookies, authentically crafted pita bread, hand stretched rustic phyllo pies and other delectable items. Using local ingredients and old-world craftsmanship you can taste, Katerina is committed to producing quality goods entirely from scratch.

Milk & Honey – Silver Spring
Milk & Honey, a southern inspired brunch and soul food restaurant which has locations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, has opened in the space that was recently home to Willie T’s Seafood Shack at 9326 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. The news of its opening was first reported by Source of the Spring. Both Milk & Honey and Willie T’s concepts are owned by Thompson Hospitality, the group behind Matchbox (Bethesda, Rockville, and Silver Spring locations in MoCo), Austin Grill and American Tap Room (both previously in MoCo), and Wiseguy Pizza (now open at Wheaton Mall.) Menu items at Milk & Honey include “Chef Sammy’s Award Winning” Shrimp & Grits, Deep Fried Salmon Hash, Chicken & Waffles, and Crab Benedict. According to the restaurant’s website, this Milk & Honey location will be a a uick service restaurant with limited seating available. Food will be served in carry-out containers.

Ming’s Chinese Restaurant – Rockville
Ming’s, a new restaurant serving Chinese cuisine, is now open at 800 Pleasant Dr. Suite 120 in Rockville’s King Farm neighborhood. Ming’s is located in the space that was previously home to Imperial Chinese Gardens.  Menu specialties include Hunan Style Bamboo Shoots, Kongbao Jumbo Shrimp, House Style Cumin Lamb, and Sauteed Beef Intestines.  Full menu can be seen here. The restaurant is open 11am-9:30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11am-9am Sunday, and closed Tuesdays.

Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen – Gaithersburg
Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen at 229 Boardwalk Pl. in Rio opened on June 9. Miss Toya’s is located in the 2,741SF space that was previously occupied by BGR and will serve southern-influenced dishes such as red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese, and a southern fried chicken sandwich. The restaurant is part of Jeffeary Miskiri’s Miskiri Hospitality Group, which describes itself as a unique collective of Black, family and woman-owned products and restaurants in the DC area. Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen in Rio will be a fast-casual restaurant, while the Miss Toya’s Creole Kitchen at 923 Ellsworth Dr in Downtown Silver Spring is full-service (wait staff, etc.)

Mochinut – Rockville 
Mochinut, a restaurant that serves mochi donuts, Korean rice flour hotdogs, soft serve, and bubble tea drinks has opened at 838 Rockville Pike– inside the current location of Tea-Do. Tea-Do is a “contemporary tea house” that was on the early side of MoCo’s bubble tea explosion in recent years, opening in January of 2016.  Mochinut offers mochi donuts, which is described as “a donut that originated from Hawaii which is a combination of American doughnuts and Japanese mochi.” Up to 25 different flavors are available, but flavors will vary by location. The Mochinut menu also consists savory treats in the form of Korean hotdogs and offers other sweet menu items like soft serve ice cream and bubble tea drinks.

Motorkat – Silver Spring 
Motorkat, the new restaurant from restaurateur Chris Brown (Zinnia, Soko & Takoma Bev Co) and Executive Chef Danny Wells (Republic, Zinnia and Takoma Bev Co.) is now open at 6939 Laurel Ave in Takoma Park. Motorkat’s menu revolves around a seasonally-led, wood-fired culinary experience with a high quality sourced raw bar.

Naz’s Halal – Takoma Park & White Oak
Naz’s Halal has opened new MoCo locations this year at 7671 New Hampshire Ave in Takoma Park and 11209 New Hampshire Ave in White Oak. The restaurant has additional locations in Rockville and Germantown.

Neal’s Bagels – Gaithersburg
Neal’s Bagels is now open at 113 Commerce Square Pl in Gaithersburg. The new shop is located in the Kentlands paseo, next to Burtons and across from RanKen Noodle House. Neal’s Bagels has relocated from its previous location about a mile and a half away at 12141 Darnestown Rd in the Potomac Valley shopping center.

New Grand Mart – Germantown (food court)
Noodles & Friends and Gogi Friends Korean BBQ have opened inside of the food court at New Grand Mart supermarket at 13069 Wisteria Drive in the Germantown Plaza shopping center. Additional vendors, including Tous les Jours (bakery) and Fortune Cha (bubble tea and dessert) are expected to open by the end of the summer. Menu items at Noodles & Friends include JjaJang (noodles with blackbean sauce), Jjampong (seafood soup), KimChi fried rice, and Shrimp Tangsu. Menu items at Gogi Friends includes BulGogi, Bibim Bap, Ramyeon noodles, and dumpling soup. New Grand Mart opened in the space previously occupied by Lotte Plaza on June 8th. According to its website, “New Grand Mart carries a variety of fresh produce, fish, meats, and ethnic specialty items that is hard for other markets to match.”

Nosh Grill House – Rockville 
Nosh Grill House at 11 N Washington Street in Rockville opened in April. The restaurant, which offers contemporary Chinese-style bbq, is the neighbor and sister restaurant of East Grill Karaoke and East Dumpling House. Along with all-you-can-eat bbq, Nosh Grill House will offer karaoke. The soft opening begins on Monday, April 17th and runs Monday-Thursday from 5pm until 1am and Friday-Sunday from 5pm-2am. Full menu available below. Per Nosh Grill House: “NOSH is a contemporary Chinese-style BBQ restaurant and karaoke bar that pays homage to traditional Northern Chinese food culture, while embracing neighboring countries’ influences, including Japan, Korea, and Russia. Forged with skill and passion, this family-owned restaurant has been a years-long journey in the making; the result is a welcoming, eccentric space with a boisterous bar and a 12-foot screen for karaoke, sporting events, and shows.

Oliva’s Kitchen – Bethesda
Oliva’s Kitchen opened February 22 at 4708 Highland Ave in Bethesda, the former home of Taco Fresco. Taco Fresco opened in the location in November of 2021 and was available for sale approximately 6 months later. Breakfast options include egg sandwiches, Belgian waffles, breakfast tortes, Huevos Mexicanas, and more. Lunch sandwiches include the Cubano, Torta Milenasa, Buffalo Chicken, Steak & Cheese, and others.

Paris Baguette – Rockville
Paris Baguette, “the neighborhood bakery café where communities come together over expertly crafted baked and brewed goods,” has opened its Rockville Town Square location at 101 Gibbs Street. Paris Baguette offers cakes, gourmet sandwiches, salads, and an assortment of baked goods such as croissants and donuts.

Pho Nom Nom – Gaithersburg 
Pho Nom Nom is now open at 18509 N Frederick Ave at Gaithersburg S.C. (that’s the name of the shopping center), at the former site of Pho Viet Saigon. Pho Nom Nom has an additional location at 842 Rockville Pike. The restaurant specializes in authentic Vietnamese cuisine, including pho, banh mi, noodles and grilled dishes.

Pizza Hut – Rockville & Silver Spring
Pizza Hut has opened new locations this year at 842-B Rockville Pike in Rockville and 10100 Colesville Rd. in Silver Spring. The new Pizza Hut locations are a smaller version than traditional Pizza Hut locations of the past– focusing solely on carry out and delivery orders. In September 2021, David Gibbs (CEO of Pizza Hut parent company Yum Brands), told investors, “We closed a lot of the dine-in stores that didn’t belong on the portfolio over the last 18 months in the United States,” according to a transcript on the financial services site Sentieo. “But for the most part, the stores we have in the portfolio now are good, long-term stores.” The new Germantown Pizza Hut location, which opened less than three months ago, follows the model.

Poke Bowl – Aspen Hill/Silver Spring
Maryland-based Poke Bowl, a restaurant serving poke bowls, bubble tea, a variety of appetizers, and more, is now open at 2229 Bel Pre Road in Plaza Del Mercado– replacing Smoothie King, between Pizza Stop and Aldi. Poke Bowl has five locations in Maryland, primarily in the Baltimore region with one location in Frederick. Signage has just been posted on the window informing shoppers of the restaurant’s impending arrival, but an opening date is now available. Smoothie King, which closed permanently last month after four years at Plaza Del Mercado, has additional Montgomery County locations in Bethesda and Rockville (Fallsgrove and Congressional Plaza), and an upcoming location in Olney.

Rakugaki – Bethesda 
Rakugaki at 10223 Georgetown Road, near Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream at the Shops at Wildwood, held its soft opening on March 11. When deciding on a new location, co-owner Marcel The said, “We love the Bethesda community which we have served for the past 25 years. We feel that Wildwood is the perfect choice for our newest restaurant where we will feature favorite menu items as well as introduce new offerings.” Raku’s Bethesda and Cathedral Heights locations as well as Rakuya at Dupont Circle remain open.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Raku team to Wildwood and expect Rakugaki to share the same success as its sister location at Bethesda Row,” said Ralph Ours of Federal Realty. “We are always on the search for delicious exclusive brands to complement our merchant mix and this new dining destination will be an excellent addition to the Montgomery County restaurant scene.”

RASA – Rockville
RASA, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with four locations in DC and Virginia, is now open in the former Slapfish location at 12033 Rockville Pike in the Montrose Crossing shopping center. The restaurant, founded by Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman (combined to create the name, RASA), opened its first location in Navy Yard in 2017 before opening a location in Mt. Vernon Triangle in 2020, Crystal City in 2021, and Fairfax this past summer. The menu offers seven chef-curated bowls under the “We Got You” portion of the menu, that includes their signature bowls like the “Tikka Chance on Me”, “Open Sesame”, “Eat Your Veggies”, “Home Cooking”, “Goa Your Own Way”, “Aloo Need is Love”, and “Caul on Me” or the “You Got It” portion of their menu that allows customers to “DIY” and design their own bowl using the assembly line format of a base, main, sauce, veggies, toppings, and chutneys/dressings.

Red Ribbon Bakeshop – Wheaton
Red Ribbon Bakeshop, a Filipino bakery chain, opened its new Wheaton location on Saturday, September 23 at 9am just as heavy rains moved through the area with Tropical Storm Ophelia. That didn’t  stop hundreds of customers from showing up to support the bakery’s first Maryland location– arriving as early 3:30am. One customer, Mr. Eugie Ariaga of Rockville, became Red Ribbon’s first-ever Maryland customer. He won “one year of sweetness”– a Mango Supreme Cake every month for a year. The bakery is located at 2501 University Blvd W, right next to the Anchor Inn sign that still stands. Currently, Red Ribbon Bakeshop has over 200 locations across the Philippines and 39 in the United States. In 2005 it was acquired by Jollibee Foods Corporation, which opened its first D.C. area Jollibee location at Wheaton Mall in 2021.

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken – Gaithersburg/Rockville
Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken at 16248 Frederick Rd (on the border of Gaithersburg/Rockville), opened on February 19. The North Carolina-based biscuit chain is known for their buttermilk-brined chicken and has additional Maryland locations in Columbia and Towson. Menu items include biscuit sandwiches, biscuits & gravy, fried chicken strips, and donuts.

Roaming Rooster – Gaithersburg 
Roaming Rooster at 511 Quince Orchard Rd in Gaithersburg (former Duck Donuts location) opened in the Firstfield Shopping Center in January.  Roaming Rooster is known for its variety of buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches that vary in heat depending on the diner’s preferences – mild, medium or hot. In addition to its free-range, grain-fed, antibiotic-free and Halal chicken, Roaming Rooster offers an all week breakfast menu, salads and sides including wings, chicken tenders and hand-cut fries.

Salt & Vine – Olney
Salt & Vine has opened in the Olney House, which was previously the home of Ricciuti’s at 3308 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd. “Salt & Vine Trattoria and Wine Bar is built from the historic Olney house at Olney Maryland. Executive Chef and Owner, Thomas Zippelli has focused on creating local, fresh, and seasonally inspired Italian dishes. As well as building a dining experience that fits everyone . We have outdoor seating, two bars, private dining, and a dining room. Anyone searching for an elevated and authentic dining experience will enjoy Salt and Vine. Search no further.”

The Salt Line – Bethesda
The Salt Line is now open at 4900 Hampden Lane, which was previously home to Greek restaurant Kapnos until 2018.  According to the restaurant, the opening menu at features a selection of beloved New England favorites also found at The Salt Line’s Navy Yard and Ballston locations, as well as additions from Executive Chef Eric McKamey and Long Shot Hospitality Chef/Partner Kyle Bailey. Highlights include the Local Heirloom Tomato Salad, Bucatini and Clams, Maine Peekytoe Crab Roll, and more. In addition to full beer and wine lists, the cocktail program is heavily influenced by the New England lifestyle and showcases imaginative twists on timeless classics such as the Cape Codder G&T, The Blue Cheese Martini, Sbagliato Spritz, and more. The interior evokes a nautical feel, with mahogany paneling, brass fixtures, booths inspired by yacht seats, a huge u-shaped bar, and vintage coastal ephemera throughout.

Sarku Japan – Wheaton
Sarku Japan has reopened in Wheaton Mall in a  new location just outside of Costco, near the relatively new Sydney’s Burger. Sarku Japan is often found inside of malls and has a mall location in Bethesda’s Montgomery Mall. Its other MoCo location can be found a standalone store (located within a strip mall rather than in a food court) in the White Oak shopping center. The chain offers made-to-order teppanyaki-style Japanese dishes cooked on sizzling grills as well as a limited amount of sushi rolls.

Shake Shack – Gaithersburg
Shake Shake is now open at 150 Kentlands Blvd in the Kentlands. Shake Shack has additional MoCo locations at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and Cabin John Village in Potomac.

Sheetz – Gaithersburg
Montgomery County’s first Sheetz opened this summer at 751 Progress Way in Gaithersburg. Sheetz is a gas station/convenience store that offers made to order food and has over 650 locations throughout Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. According to the company, Sheetz provides “kicked-up convenience while being more than just a convenience store. Sheetz is a mecca for people on the go. If you need to refuel your car or refresh your body, we have what you need to keep you moving on to whatever comes next.” Sheetz will also be opening a location in the Walnut Hill shopping center in Gaithersburg in 2024.

Stella Point Grille – Kensington
Stella Point Grill is now open at 3739 University Blvd in Kensington– the former home of China Gourmet. The restaurant is owned by Graham Gursky (former general manager at Quincy’s South) and Stephen Lee (principal owner of China Gourmet). Gursky is a Montgomery County native, who was raised in Germantown and attended Watkins Mill High School. He has worked in the restaurant business since he was in high school, only leaving Montgomery County for a few years while attending college in New Hampshire. Lee is also local, born in Washington DC. He has been in the restaurant industry his whole life and attended college in Kentucky before managing restaurants for decades. He has been married to his wife Christina for 51 years and has two daughters four grandchildren. Much of Lee’s staff from China Gourmet was getting ready to retire so he was ready to change concepts at the location. Gursky has brought along a lot of his former staff from Quincy’s South including the restaurant’s Assistant GM, Gavin Holt, who is also a MoCo native.
Smoothie King – Olney 
Smoothie King is now open in Olney Village Center, taking over the 980 SF space that was previously home to Party USA at 18151 Village Center Drive, between IHOP and Pho & Grill.

Sweetgreen – Gaithersburg
Sweetgreen opened at 299 Copley Place D100 in Downtown Crown on January 20. Sweetgreen currently has three additional MoCo locations, in Bethesda, Downtown Silver Spring, and Pike & Rose. Crown has been without a fast-casual salad restaurant since Chopt closed in early 2020 and has since moved that location to the Kentlands neighborhood.

Tacos El Pariente – Gaithersburg  & Olney (food truck)
Tacos El Pariente opened a new food truck at 18000 Georgia Ave (Exxon) in Olney on February 13 and its first brick and motor location at 7889 Cessna Ave. in Gaithersburg on September 22. Tacos El Pariente also operates its original food truck at 20220 Frederick Rd in Germantown

Menu items include birria tacos with consome (their specialty), tortas, burritos, enchiladas, and esquite.
You will still be able to find the original Tacos El Pariente truck at 20220 Frederick Rd in Germantown. Additional details below courtesy of Tacos El Pariente on Instagram.

Taco Loco – Silver Spring
Taco Loco is now open at 8417 Georgia Ave in Silver Spring, the former site of Guavaberry Dominican Restaurant and The Greek Place.  Menu items include tacos, tortas, gorditas, soups, tamales, elote loco, birria pizza, and more. According to a report from Source of the Spring, Taco Loco began in White Oak as a mobile catering business. You can view the restaurant’s Facebook page here.

TaKorean – Gaithersburg
Korean taco grill TaKorean has taken over the recently-closed Nalley Fresh location at 261 Kentlands Blvd in Gaithersburg. The restaurant offers Korean style tacos and bowls with options including chicken/Dak Halbi, steak/Bulgogi, pork/Bo Ssam, and tofu/Hoisin. This will be TaKoreans first location outside of D.C.

Taste of Kabob – Rockville
Taste of Kabab, a new Halal restaurant, opened at 765-E Rockville Pike in the Ritchie Center (Rockville) in September. The restaurant has taken over the space that was previously home to CM Chicken/Gama Chicken. Earlier this year, Choong Man (CM) Chicken rebranded to Gama Chicken & BBQ at 765 Rockville Pike #E. At the time a representative from the restaurant, which specialized in Korean style fried chicken, let us that they made the change in early 2023 and that you can still find many of the same or similar menu items. The restaurant closed earlier this summer. Taste of Kabab menu consists of multiple appetizers, a variety of biryanis, kababs, and drinks.

Third Hill Brewing Co.- Silver Spring
Third Hill Brewing Co., which is located in the former Astro Lab Brewing location at 8216 Georgia Ave in Silver Spring, opened on Saturday, August 19.  Jason Sliter, Third Hill Brewing Co. owner, has spent nearly a decade of craft beer research & development formulating his unique recipes. The new addition to the neighborhood further represents the strength of the official Brewery District in downtown Silver Spring, reinvigorating Silver Spring as the DC area beer destination.”

Quickway Japanese Hibachi – Rockville
Quickway has opened its 7th Montgomery County location right next to Trader Joe’s in the Travilah Square Shopping Center. Their signature hibachi chicken dish is available for $7.95 and additional meals range in price from $9.95 to $12.75. Bento boxes, beef, shrimp, tofu, salmon, sushi, poke bowls and more are also available. The regional chain opened its 6th location in Olney last year and and its 5th MoCo location in Stone Mill Square (Korean Korner shopping center) before that. Quickway which can now be found in 10 different counties across the DMV since opening its first location in 2012, will be joining Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken– another new fast casual restaurant that recently opened in the shopping center.

Willie T’s Seafood Shack- Silver Spring (now closed)
Willie T’s Seafood Shack opened at 9326 Georgia Avenue, between Islands Tropical Ice Cream and Goldberg’s New York Bagels, in the location that was formerly home to Andy’s Restaurant and closed several months later. The restaurant served a variety of seafood dishes, including hand-breaded fried fish sandwiches and baskets, crab cakes, lobster tails, salads, grilled fish and po boys. The restaurant has been replaced by Mike & Honey.
Wiseguy Pizza – Wheaton
Wiseguy Pizza opened it’s first Montgomery County location in the Wheaton Mall food court on Wednesday, September 20.  Wiseguy serves stone-deck oven baked pizza by the slice that’s made with imported ingredients from Italy, homemade sauces, and dough using a special water filtration system. Pizza options include Cheese, Pepperoni, Paneer Tikki (House Masala, Paneer, Mozzarella, Onions, Tomato, Green & Chili Peppers, Cilantro, Jalapeño Sauce), Nashville Hot Chicken, Chicken Parmesan, and Whitestone (Garlic, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Parmigiano, Oregano, Oil from Tuscany Italy.)

Zuma By Chef Ninja – Bethesda 
Chef Mitsuhisa Nishio, or “Michu” to his family members and friends and Chef Ninja to many of his followers across social media, opened Zuma By Chef Ninja in the space that was previously home to Brickside at 4866 Cordell Ave in Bethesd on October 6th.

Spooky season is in full effect and there’s still plenty of time to check out some of the scariest haunted forests and attractions in and around Montgomery County.
1. Markoff’s Haunted Forest – 19120 Martinsburg Rd, Dickerson

As the fall nights grow longer and a cool crisp in the air blows with the breeze, the silence at Calleva Farm is broken by blood curling screams echoing through the woods.  In its 31st year, Maryland’s original and most terrifying haunted attraction, Markoff’s Haunted Forest, is open weekends in late September and October. The MHF experience has built a national reputation for its unique, multi-sensory haunt experience. Music, lighting effects, scents & creepy human interaction set the tone for a fully immersive experience in each of 3 attractions.

The haunt is a benefit performance for Calleva, a 501c3 organization dedicated to building young leaders through positive outdoor experiences. “We spend all year empowering people through outdoor experiences that foster teamwork & individual achievement,” says Nick Markoff, one of the three brothers who founded Calleva. “Then we bring them out to Markoff’s Haunted Forest to knock their confidence back a bit.”  The haunt began as a small scale event, but has grown into one of the nation’s top-ranked performances. Markoff’s Haunted Forest still helps fund Calleva’s summer camp scholarships, community partnerships, and outdoor education programming. It’s a partnership that delivers seasonal fun AND year-round benefits to our Montgomery County neighborhood. Tickets are on sale now at www.markoffshauntedforest.com.

“Since 1992, when the Markoff brothers started with a Haunted School Bus driven to events and festivals around DC, our haunt has provided fright fest lovers with a creative, dramatic, and – YES — terrifying haunt experience. Our creative team combines music, lights, scents, actors, make-up & prosthetics, and artistic brilliance in a series of high-tech, detailed scenes that consistently place MHF among the top haunts in the country.”

2.  Leech Woods – 11201 Bethesda Church Rd, Damascus

Leech Woods first opened in 2022 and is described as “a thirty minute immersive haunted trail experience of dark terror” that promises a night of chain saws, clowns and dark corners.  Leech Woods also offers food and drink, four bonfires, axe throwing, a DJ booth, fortune telling, and other forms of entertainment each night.

Per Leech Woods: According to Montgomery County historical land records, the present site of Leech Woods was originally settled by Warwick and Jeanne Leech and their six children sometime in early 1790.  Having immigrated from Hungary, the family chose Damascus, Maryland based on its temperate climate and heavily wooded region which reminded them of their homeland.  The Leech family store thrived as the leading local merchant of hides, furs and hunting supplies.  During the disastrous Winter of 1804, the Leech family store was robbed and vandalized by unknown attackers and the body of John Leech, the youngest son, was found nailed to the back wall of the store.  The remaining bodies of the family members were later found bludgeoned and bound inside of the root cellar of their homestead.  No further information about the attackers or motives for the killings are known. Remnants of the Leech family homestead still stands deep in the woods where the present Leech Woods experience is built.  The Leech Woods immersive experience follows the original walking path from the site of the Leech family hunting supply store to the remnants of the original family homestead.  As the property was classified as a historical site in 1972, no artifacts may be removed and we ask that you respect the privacy of the grave sites. Tickets are available here.

Sugarloaf Mountain, a Stronghold property, has been closed since an attempted break-in at the Strong Mansion on August 19th. Stronghold Inc., the non-profit that owns and operates the property, has announced that it will be reopening the property with notable changes. “The Stronghold property will be open to the public under these conditions beginning on October 10^th.  Please enjoy the property respectfully.” The changes, per Stronghold, can be seen below:

Notable Changes: Visitors will no longer be allowed to park in the crossroads or “square”. This change will keep the intersection clear of inappropriately parked vehicles, eliminate late night loitering, and stop after hours entry onto the Stronghold property. This change will also provide a needed staging area for all EMS vehicles during emergencies.

Park hours are from 8 a.m. to sunset. The front gate closes at 4 pm. If you are on the Stronghold property after sunset, you have overstayed your welcome. Please park only in designated spaces, no roadside parking is allowed. Vehicles parked on the property after sunset will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Directional traffic control spikes have been installed to prevent vehicles from traveling the wrong way up the mountain exit road.  This change was made for the safety of our visitors and staff.  Please pay special attention to all associated warning signs. Security cameras have been installed in key locations on the Stronghold property.  Photos will be captured of all vehicles that enter the Stronghold property, including tag numbers.  If you witness any type of vandalism or otherwise criminal behavior on the Stronghold property, please report it to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and Stronghold Incorporated.

Fall is here and the colors around us are about to change. Whether it’s the taste of a warm pumpkin-flavored latte, the cool breeze of a crisp fall morning, weekends full of football, or the yellow glow of the sun on a tall birch tree, autumn is often a contender for MoCo residents’ favorite season (however short it may be). Many locals are looking forward to combining all the best parts of fall and enjoying the foliage outdoors, so we’ve put together a small list of 11 where you can enjoy the foliage across the county:

Agricultural Reserve: A drive through the rural areas that the 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve encompasses, along with the larger rural communities of Damascus and Poolesville and small crossroad communities such as Beallsville, Sunshine and Dickerson, are sure to give you your fill of fall foliage.

Black Hill Regional Park (Boyds): With over 2,000 acres of land for outdoor recreation and family gatherings, you can enjoy spectacular views of the foliage and Little Seneca Lake.

Agricultural History Farm Park (Derwood): You can find fall changes beyond foliage at Agricultural History Farm Park. The fields are golden brown and ready for harvest. Dahlias are in bloom next door in the Montgomery County Master Naturalists’ gardens. And, there are glints of red on a maple tree.

Rock Creek Regional Park (Derwood): Lake Bernard Frank at Rock Creek Regional Park is a beautiful spot for quiet and solitude right now. Pack in a chair or find a log and take in the crisp air and seasonal scenery. Yellow leaves are saturated at sunset.

Seneca Creek State Park (Gaithersburg): Th3 6,300 acre park extends along 14 scenic miles of Seneca Creek, all the way to the Potomac River. Clopper Lake offers boating and fishing, as well as trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. A 16.5 mile hike down Seneca Creek Greenway Trail follows the entire course of the creek.

Cabin John Regional Park (Potomac): Look high and low on the trails near Locust Grove Nature Center at Cabin John Regional Park for autumn color.

Great Falls Park (Potomac): Foliage and the Potomac River? Count us in. You can catch a little of everything at Great Falls this time of year.

Maydale Conservation Park (Silver Spring): In the eastern part of Montgomery County, there are hints of fall. Dabs of yellow are beginning to show on trees around the pond at Maydale Conservation Park.

Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park (Silver Spring): Crunch your way along Sligo Creek Trail. The paved path is covered in brown and yellow leaves which collect and disperse with the wind. The canopy is punctuated with hints of yellow and orange.

Brookside Gardens (Wheaton): Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden within Wheaton Regional Park has plenty of foliage for visitors to take in.

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard (Dickerson): While the mountain itself is in Frederick County, the vineyard is in Montgomery County with amazing views of the surrounding area (as seen in our featured photo). As of press time the mountain is closed to the public, but you can still enjoy the view nearby.

Featured photo courtesy of @dronifyDMV

Sugarloaf Mountain, a Stronghold property, has been closed since an attempted break-in at the Strong Mansion on August 19th. Stronghold Inc., the non-profit that owns and operates the property for the public’s “enjoyment and education in an appreciation of natural beauty”, has posted the following message:

The Stronghold property will be closed to the public until further notice.  Stronghold Incorporated will be focused on providing for and reassessing the security needs for the entirety of the Stronghold property.  On Saturday August 19, 2023 an unidentified individual attempted to make entry into the Strong Mansion between the hours of 8:30 am and 10:30 am.  Physical evidence was collected at the scene, including a DNA sample. Security camera footage is being reviewed.  If anyone happened to see anything suspicious or has any information pertaining to this situation please contact Deputy Wheeler with the Frederick County Sheriff’s office at (301) 639-4866, reference case number 2023-090125.  We appreciate any information as well as your understanding and patience at this time.

Per SugarloafMD.com:  Stronghold, Incorporated is a non-profit corporation, organized in 1946 by the late Gordon Strong. It owns and operates the mountain property for the public’s “enjoyment and education in an appreciation of natural beauty.” Sugarloaf Mountain has been designated a Registered Natural Landmark because of its geological interest and striking beauty. Stronghold agreed to maintain its natural state, and your help in this regard will be a most welcome contribution.

Funds for maintenance and improvement do not come from federal, state, or municipal sources. They come from a modest trust fund, from membership dues, and from gifts and bequests of folks like you, who are interested in preserving this priceless heritage.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources – Wildlife and Heritage Service plants sunflowers each spring on the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The primary purpose for planting sunflowers on wildlife management areas is to provide a food source for mourning doves, as well as other wildlife species, after the plants mature and dry. Mourning doves are hunted at these fields during hunting seasons that traditionally begin on September 1 and continue through early January.

A number of fields are planted each year, although two fields are designated as Dove Management Fields. The Dove Management Area fields have restricted times and days when hunting can occur during the month of September. In addition to mourning doves, sunflowers and sunflower seeds are a favorite food source for a host of other songbirds, mammals and pollinators. Sunflowers require pollination by insects, usually bees, to produce a seed crop. In turn, honey bees and many species of native bees, benefit from the abundant nectar and pollen that sunflowers produce.

The many benefits of sunflowers are lost when they are cut or trampled by people. These sunflowers are planted for the benefit of wildlife and regulations prohibit the cutting, destruction or removal of any plants from these areas. The public is welcome to visit, admire and photograph the sunflowers in bloom. However, visitors must be responsible and ensure that their actions don’t have negative consequences.

Wildlife Management Area Access:

McKee-Beshers WMA may be accessed any time of day with no overnight camping allowed. There is no fee or permit required to access the property. Wildlife species, after the plants mature and dry. Mourning doves are hunted at these fields during hunting seasons that traditionally begin on September 1 and continue through early January.

A number of fields are planted each year, although two fields are designated as Dove Management Fields. The Dove Management Area fields have restricted times and days when hunting can occur during the month of September. In addition to mourning doves, sunflowers and sunflower seeds are a favorite food source for a host of other songbirds, mammals and pollinators. Sunflowers require pollination by insects, usually bees, to produce a seed crop. In turn, honey bees and many species of native bees, benefit from the abundant nectar and pollen that sunflowers produce.

The many benefits of sunflowers are lost when they are cut or trampled by people. These sunflowers are planted for the benefit of wildlife and regulations prohibit the cutting, destruction or removal of any plants from these areas. The public is welcome to visit, admire and photograph the sunflowers in bloom. However, visitors must be responsible and ensure that their actions don’t have negative consequences.

How and when they are planted:

The techniques used to plant the sunflowers, and the sunflower variety planted, may change from year to year, as well as the number of acres planted and their locations. Sunflowers are planted in late April or early May. Weather, seed variety, weed competition, soil condition and herbivore damage will all impact the time that it takes for the plants to bloom. With favorable conditions, the sunflowers will bloom in mid-July.

After the sunflowers are done blooming and seeds are mature, in early to mid-August, strips are mowed through the sunflowers to scatter the seeds on the ground where they are more accessible to mourning doves and other wildlife.

Area Regulations:

• Destruction or removal of any plants (including sunflowers) is strictly prohibited.
• Parking is only allowed in designated parking areas.
• Do not block gates. Violators may be towed and ticketed.
• Driving is only allowed on main roads (River Road, Hunting Quarter Road, and Sycamore Landing Road). Only authorized or emergency vehicles allowed behind gates.
• Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed.
• Wildlife Management Areas are trash-free. No trash cans are provided. Please take all trash with you.
• Commercial activities are prohibited.

Directions: From the Capital Beltway, take Exit 39 (River Road) west toward Potomac. Proceed for approximately 11 miles to the intersection of River Road and MD 112, Seneca Road. Turn left and continue on River Road for about 2 1/2 miles. McKee-Beshers will be on your left as you head west on River Road.

​Tips for a successful visit:

• McKee-Beshers WMA h​as no bathroom facilities, no benches and no picnic tables. Please plan accordingly.
• McKee-Beshers WMA​ is home to ticks, mosquitoes and poison​ ivy. Long pants, bug spray and close-toed shoes​ are recommended.​
• Please note that trails are unmanicured dirt or gravel that can be rough or muddy and may be unsuitable for strollers.

Current sunflower conditions: Sunflower status on July ​​21​​, 20​23

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Watch Issued for Western Maryland and Portions of Central Maryland; No Mandatory Water Use Restrictions in Place but Voluntary Reductions Encouraged

Per The Maryland Department of the Environment: The Maryland Department of the Environment is urging citizens and businesses in a large part of the state to voluntarily reduce their water usage as a drought watch has been issued. “Water conservation is a good practice year-round, but we are asking residents and businesses to pay particular attention during the summer months when the State can experience hot and dry conditions,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain.

“You can do your part by limiting the use and duration of sprinklers for lawns, taking short showers as opposed to baths, and not leaving the faucet running while brushing your teeth. These things sound simple, but it all adds up.” A drought watch has been issued for Western Maryland and portions of Central Maryland based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year. During a drought watch, MDE increases oversight of water supply conditions and encourages voluntary water conservation practices. No mandatory water use restrictions have been issued.

The affected region includes Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Washington Counties, except for areas served by the Baltimore City or Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission  public water systems.

At this time, the State currently has enough water to meet the needs of residents and businesses, but water conservation measures are being encouraged to help avoid any future water shortages. Recent rainfall in the area is not expected to have a significant effect in reducing the precipitation deficit. Homeowners should consider water conservation measures listed in our fact sheet. Recommendations on conserving water for certain types of businesses, such as restaurants and commercial buildings, are also available.

MD-28 Darnestown Road is CLOSED near Peach Tree Road & Lewis Orchards in Dickerson (Upper Montgomery County, MD) following a crash.

According to our public safety reporter, Cordell Pugh, at approximately 11PM on Wednesday night, a driver crashed into a utility pole and was ejected, leading to a critical injury. The driver was transported to an area trauma center. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

CRITICAL INJURY CRASH WITH EJECTION: MD-28 Darnestown Road CLOSED near Peach Tree Road & Lewis Orchards (Upper Montgomery County, MD). ~11PM Wednesday, driver crashed into a utility pole, was ejected & critically injured. Driver transported to an area Trauma Center. #MDTraffic https://t.co/3bAJIp77SR

— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) July 6, 2023

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a house fire in the 22000 block of Dickerson Rd, near Dickerson Church Rd and Big Woods Rd in Dickerson on Wednesday, April 26 around 2am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials on the front porch. A smoke alarm alerted residents and they evacuated safely.

Damage is estimated to be $15K and there were no injuries reported.

Update – Dickerson Road; Origin/Cause, improperly discarded smoking materials on front porch; Damage ~$15K; no injuries; smoke alarm alerted residence and they evacuated safely; the family was able to re-occupy the house https://t.co/Y4MujTysj9 pic.twitter.com/OFmngh4ITr

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 26, 2023

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a brush fire in the area of Beallsville Rd and Hillside Ln, along the the CSX railroad tracks, in Dickerson shortly before 6am on Wednesday morning.

According to a 7:26am update by MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the fire was contained and extinguished with crews getting ready to clear out. There were no injuries and likely “some deer have to be re-located & a few woodchucks are displaced & maybe a raccoon or two, as well…”, but the tracks are still shut down as of 7:30am.

Update – @MontgomeryCoMD Dickerson, MD brush fire is contained & extinguished, @mcfrs FF crews are ‘picking-up’, no injuries, it’s likely some deer have to be re-located & a few woodchucks are displaced & maybe a raccoon or two, as well….CSX/MARC RR tracks still shut down https://t.co/eLeCDL4QjF pic.twitter.com/gTr9bvcpLy

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 12, 2023

Per the Fair Access Committee: As calls intensify for the reopening of White’s Ferry, members of Fair Access for Western Montgomery County and residents of Poolesville will unite at the ferry site on December 29th to mark the two-year anniversary of the shuttering of this vital service that served 800 cars daily.

The 240-year-old community connector ceased operation in December of 2020 after a decade-long lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County over their use of private land for a Virginia landing. A critical component of our region’s transportation network, closure of the ferry has hit the town of Poolesville especially hard.

Not only has this impasse has cost Poolesville and Loudon County hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, but its historic value is unmatched. White’s Ferry was the last remaining cable ferry service that carried cars, bicycles, and pedestrians across the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland. Its estimated reopening the ferry could have as much as a $9M economic impact in the first year.

The following individuals are expected to speak:

• Link Hoewing, Chair, Fair Access Committee
• Jim Brown, President, Poolesville Town Commissioners