Permanent signage is up at Burtons (109 Commerce Square Pl) at the Kentlands in Gaithersburg. The restaurant is scheduled to open in “late May” according to its website. Management at the location tell us that they are currently in the process of hiring and training staff, and the interior of the restaurant is almost finished.
Menu items will include braised short ribs, filet mignon, chicken risotto, and market fresh seafood. You can view the Riverdale Park location’s menu here.
A previous version of this article contained a typo in Janet You’d name that had since been corrected.
Chef Janet Yu, owner of Hollywood East Cafe in Wheaton will speak at Food for the Body and Soul: Advocating for Community through Culinary Traditions. This free series through Zoom requires registration and is a collaboration among two Smithsonian museums and Smithsonian Associates offers fresh insights into American culture, past and present, through the lens of food. Each program is hosted by Smithsonian moderators and features a guest chef who prepares a recipe and explores the history and tradition behind its ingredients, culinary techniques, and community meaning. The chefs also shed light on their personal stories and their activism and advocacy in and around the Washington area.
Corner Pizza & Subs at 18503 N Frederick Ave. plan to open by the end of this month. The restaurant has a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for May 26 but is hoping to have its doors open before then. The restaurant is located in the former Jasmine Bakery Café location (that was previously home to Classic Bakery) in the Gaithersburg shopping center that is also home to Brewster’s Ice Cream. We spoke with owners Nishade and Prabath who told us that the restaurant will specialize in what’s sometimes referred to as “Maryland Style Pizza“, the rectangular pizza you find at local restaurants like Stained Glass Pub, Continental, Gentleman Jim’s, and 4 Corners Pub. Nishade has worked in pizza restaurants since he came to America from Sri Lanka over twenty years ago.
The restaurant will make its dough fresh daily and menu items in addition to pizza will include subs, meatballs, and wings, as well as a breakfast menu. The restaurant will be open from 6am-11pm daily and has an indoor dining room as well as a room that can be reserved for hosting parties/events. We will post an opening date once it is announced.
Ivela Sports Lounge will be moving in to 949 Bonifant Street Suite A, the previous location of Urban Winery, in Silver Spring. Urban Winery opened in the location back in 2015 and remained there until they closed the location to move to 2315 Stewart Ave, a bigger space in late 2020. The new winery is temporarily closed due to construction.
Not much information is currently available on Ivela Sports Lounge, but permits are up in the windows and construction is coming next. Ivela Sports Lounge LLC was incorporated in June 2021 by Legesse Negash, according to filing documents.
Back in December we let you know that DC’s Butter Me Up will be opening a Montgomery County location in Westfield’s Montgomery Mall. The wait is over, as the location opened yesterday according to mall security. Butter Me Up has taken over the old Aroma Espresso Bar location, which is downstairs near the Old Navy entrance.
The breakfast spot, which features “instagrammable” decor, will offer a menu that consists of a variety of breakfast sandwiches, toasts, sides, bowls, smoothies, and juices. A Yelp article named Butter Me Up DC’s best breakfast sandwich, as the restaurant’s first location can be found within HalfSmoke in Florida Ave NW.
In December we let you know that the founder of Sweet Frog, Derek Cha, will be bringing his take on the Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich to MoCo with Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken. The Wheaton location is now open at 2533 Ennals Ave in Wheaton, in the spot that was formerly home to El Pollo Kiki Riki. Construction is ongoing at the Rockville restaurant, located in the 1,600 sf location that was home to El Mexicano at 10050 Darnestown Road, between Pholuscious and Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the Travilah Square shopping center.
Per our previous report: In collaboration with partner, Mike Kim, the pair visited many successful Nashville-style chicken restaurants in LA, Nashville, and San Francisco, that inspired them develop their “secret chicken recipe to have the most juicy and crispy sandwich.”
Cubasi Bistro, a Cuban restaurant with an existing location in Sterling, VA, is coming to 4710 Bethesda Ave. The restaurant will be located on the ground level of The Seasons Apartments in the location that was formerly home to Jimmy John’s. Jimmy John’s closed that location in late 2018. We spoke with a representative from Cubasi Bistro today who told us that the restaurant hopes to open in two weeks.
The menu consists of starters like ham croquettes, empanadas, bacalitos, and more. A variety of sandwiches and sides are on the menu, as well as pork. beef, chicken, and seafood entrees. Diners can also create their own bowls that consist of chicken/beef and salad, rice, beans, plantains, and more. The full menu and photos of a few dishes can be seen below.
Dog Haus announced today that the company has executed a development agreement with local franchisees Faizan and Adila Khan to to open 15 new Dog Haus locations over the next five years. Cities listed include Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, Frederick and Germantown. No specific information has been released on dates and locations. Faizan Khan currently franchises three MoCo Dog Haus locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring.
“We’re thrilled to see Faizan and Adila parlay their success with Dog Haus into expanding throughout the entire state of Maryland,” said Dog Haus Director of Franchise Development Erik Hartung in a press release. “Faizan has been a highly accomplished franchisee with Dog Haus by entering the restaurant industry with an incredibly unique, effective business strategy. We can’t wait to see this growth unfold and bring our one-of-a-kind creations to more markets throughout this great state!”
A new, modern American restaurant from Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks (Little Coco’s, El Chucho, Bar Charley, Quarry House Tavern) will be coming to 9811 Washington Blvd in Gaithersburg, the former location of Tara Thai. 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.
According to a press release, the team envisions the restaurant as a mature version of their popular DC restaurant Bar Charley, with an expanded menu, but keeping its lively cocktail forward energy. The broader menu will remain steak focused, but will also feature house made pastas (a la Little Coco’s) as well as other items unique to just this location. The group has tapped Editlab@Streetsense to design the space.
Ela Mesa Taste of Greece held their grand opening this past Monday, May 2nd. The new Greek restaurant is located at 109 Paramount Park Drive in the Spectrum Town Center in Gaithersburg, which is currently home to restaurants like Barking Made Cafe, California Tortilla, Hot Pot Hero, and Firebirds. The restaurant offers traditional Greek fare and also has a full bar that seats 10 people. Menu items include Pastitsio, Thalassina (seafood pasta), Kanelonia (veggie cannelloni), Kebabs, Lamb Chops, and Seafood Risotto.
Hip Flask, the rooftop bar that’s inside of The Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ, is now open. Hip Flask serves small plates and craft cocktails and is located at 7707 Woodmont Ave in Bethesda. The new hotel also features a 360 degree lobby bar. Seventh State, the hotel’s restaurant, which includes a built-in Italian wood oven and indoor/outdoor seating opened earlier this year.
Per Marriott: