The Maryland Lottery has announced that Montgomery County’s first sportsbook is now open at Sports & Social (11800 Grand Park Ave) in Pike & Rose. Sports & Social opened in August 2021 and describes itself as a “premier dining, entertainment, sports viewing, and social concept located in high-profile entertainment and lifestyle districts, world-class casino resort destinations, and at the front door of professional sports stadiums around the country.” Additional details below.

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) today issued a sports wagering facility license to Whitman Gaming, Inc., and its operator partner FanDuel, for a retail sportsbook operating at Sports & Social in North Bethesda.


Per IKEA, “Our Plan and Order points are smaller stores dedicated to kitchen, bedroom, and living room planning where you can find home furnishing advice and expertise to help design your ideal space.” You can book an appointment to start your design with a planning specialist, or use in-store, self-service tools to design your own solution. “Whilst there are no items to purchase in-store and take home on the day, for your convenience, purchases made at the Plan and Order points can be delivered to your home or picked up from one of our collection points.”

More bout Poke Bros: After the founders were introduced to the Hawaiian staple on a trip to California. The appeal of this fast and casual—while healthy—concept immediately inspired the founders to begin thinking how they could bring this unique dish to the midwest. From its inception, we were confident the foodies of Columbus would love the poké concept, but wanted to provide an inexpensive and accessible product in the larger market. After some intense research and trial and error, the Poké Bros founders developed their own brand of poké bowl flavor they are proud to share and call their own. Modeling similar assembly line casual dining concepts, we developed a unique way to build your “sushi in a bowl” and have fun doing so! As the poké movement has caught on, Poké Bros has rapidly expanded into multiple states across the Midwest and East Coast, offering the same fresh and authentic cuisine to a wider range of customers. We will continue to stick to our roots, as Poké Bros continues to grow, and offer only the best fresh ingredients that fill you up but don’t slow you down.


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.

History of Sarku: “In Japan, lunches are often taken quickly from small stalls where freshness and quality are key. Shops value their reputations very highly. This was the same dedication of our founders when they opened the first Sarku Japan in 1987.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police -2nd District Investigative Section are investigating a theft that occurred at Cubano’s Restaurant in the 4900 block of Cordell Avenue on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

The preliminary investigation by detectives has determined that the suspect entered the restaurant at approximately 8 p.m. The suspect immediately walked to the back of the restaurant, grabbed the victim’s purse that was hanging on a rack and entered the bathroom. The purse was later located inside the bathroom by a customer but was missing cash, personal items and property.  The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 30-years-old, thin build, wearing a gray t-shirt.


Brio’s Chicken has announced it will open a location at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) in Bethesda. The restaurant will be located in the space previously occupied by Tara Thai, which closed this past spring.  Menu items at Brio’s will includes Peruvian charbroiled chicken, empanadas, paninis, steaks, and seafood. Brio’s plans to be open daily from 8am-9pm and will offer Sunday brunch (full menu below.) No opening timeframe has been announced.

Brio’s Chicken was scheduled to open a location in the Kentlands but after several years of delays and issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant never materialized.  Brio’s Chicken previously had a location in Aspen Hill in the Aspen Manor shopping center, where Outback is located, but that location is under new ownership and is now known as Gio’s Chicken.


Filo Cafe at 4836 Boiling Brook Pkwy in Rockville is currently listed for sale on BizBuySell for $250,000.  The self-described “mom and pop restaurant” that offers Filipino cuisine opened in October 2022. According to the listing, “Filo Cafe owned by Romeo & Lydia Ermitano seeks new ownership. Exceptional opportunity. Look no further, our highly regarded Filipino restaurant is now available for sale. We have been the go-to-destination for authentic Filipino cuisine, captivating the hearts and palates of our loyal customers. Our restaurant has become synonymous with quality innovation, and an unrivaled dining experience. Now it’s time for a new chapter , and we invite you to be visionary behind its continued success.

Furthermore, our prime location in a bustling area ensures high visibility and easy accessibility for both locals and visitors alike. The potential for growth and expansion is immense. Don’t miss out on this remarkable opportunity to own a renowned Filipino restaurant that’s poised for continued success”


The owners of ala in Dupont Circle have announced they will open ala Bethesda at 4948 Fairmont Ave, in the former Positano restaurant space.  According to ala, the menu will be similar to the Dupont location, “where the cuisine melds the flavors of Turkey, Syria, Israel, Lebanon and beyond (known as the Levant region), an area of the world that has both a long history and a colorful past.” The new restaurant will feature a patio and rooftop, and is expected to open this fall.

Per ala: ala is under the culinary direction of Executive Chef Ercan Sahn, an internationally trained chef who recently took over the kitchen.   The menu celebrates the flavor and history of the Levantine cooking it has become synonymous for, but with a fine dining touch.  A native of Turkey, Chef Sahn has worked all over the world over the past 20 years, including in Dubai, Turkey and Cyprus.   Most recently, Sahn worked closely with acclaimed DC Chef Fabio Trabocchi at Michelin starred Wharf restaurant Del Mar.  He will also oversee the menu at ala Bethesda. Owner Deniz Gulluoglu and her family live in the Cabin John area of Bethesda and are excited to bring the restaurant to Montgomery County.


Antojitos Salvadoreños Isabel at 19114 Montgomery Village Ave is scheduled to open this 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 (full menu can be seen below.) Einstein Bros closed its Montgomery Village store in December 2021. La Poteria, which sells Colombian street food and coffee, is located next door.

In other Montgomery Village Shopping Center news, signage has been installed at the upcoming Hangry Joe’s.  The Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant will be located adjacent to the Starbuck’s at 19290 Montgomery Village Ave.  Also, construction is ongoing and “coming soon” signage is up for Baskin Robbins, which will be located next to the upcoming Safe Splash Swim School and Suburban Hair.


True Respite Brewing Company at 7301 Calhoun Place Suite 600 in Rockville has announced it will be closing on Saturday, September 2. True Respite owners Brendan and Bailey O’Leary opened up shop in 2018 and the brewery made a name for itself in the local beer community by winning multiple Maryland Craft Beer Awards and hosting community events. In June, we reported that the brewery’s location had been made available to lease.

True Respite posted the following message on their social media accounts on Thursday afternoon:


Signage is up for No Regrets Pizza Co. at 5454 Nicholson Lane in North Bethesda. The pizzeria/bar will be located on the lower level of the Harwood Flats apartment building. An opening date has not yet been set and we will update with additional information (menu, etc.) when it becomes available. The news of No Regrets Pizza Co. was first reported by Robert Dyer.

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