Restaurants Archives - Page 158 of 338

Koma Cafe Currently Holding Soft Opening

Published October 21, 2023 at 8:59AM

Koma, a new café and cocktail bar from Brad Feickert, chef and owner of SOKO Butcher, is now open at 8006 Flower Ave in Takoma Park. The restaurant is currently holding its soft opening and will be open from 7am-2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Koma is a “specialty coffee shop with an Italian influence that serves coffee, pastries, and breakfast by day and lunch, dinner, wine, beer, and cocktails by afternoon and night.” The restaurant is currently serving sandwiches and will be expanding its menu to include pizza and pasta in the coming weeks.

The restaurant posted the following on its Instagram page on Friday, October 20: “We were very sneaky and did a quiet soft open today, a lot of you found out quick and we appreciate you checking us out! We will be doing another soft opening this weekend from 7am-2pm Saturday and Sunday! Come by and try our Croissant Egg and Cheese and a cold brew!”

Old Town Pour House to Close Permanently on October 24th

By MCS Staff

Published October 20, 2023 at 9:39PM | Updated October 21, 2023 at 6:40PM

Old Town Pour House, located at 212 Ellington Drive in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown development, will be closing permanently on Tuesday, October 24th. A manager from the restaurant confirmed the closing to us on Friday night, following the restaurant’s filing of a WARN on Friday for a mass layoff of 58 employees.

We have received the following statement, “After10 incredible years in Gaithersburg, our lease is up and we’ve decided to turn off the taps at Old Town Pour House at 212 Ellington Boulevard. This last decade was filled with so many delightful guests and meaningful engagement with an outstanding community, and we consider it a major success for the Bottleneck Management group. We whole-heartedly thank everyone we’ve met along the way for making us a part of their lives. Our last day of service will be Tuesday, October 24th.

Update on Tacos Way

By Patrick Herron

Published October 20, 2023 at 8:35PM

Tacos Way is coming soon to 8777B 1st Ave in Silver Spring. The Montgomery County ABS announced that the restaurant recently received its alcohol license and Source of the Spring reports that exterior signage has recently been installed. Menu items include tacos, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, salads, and chimichangas.

According to its website, “All of our taco flavors are inspired by delicious Mexican flavors.” Tacos Way has an additional location at 10540 York Rd in Cockeysville, MD. We will provide an update when additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Tacos Way on Facebook.

“Tacos Y Tikka” Chef Collaboration Takes Place in Bethesda Starting October 26th

By MCS Staff

Published October 20, 2023 at 3:11PM

Two chefs with restaurants less than a mile away in Bethesda will be teaming up to create a Mexican/Indian fusion menu. Tacombi‘s chef Carmen Miranda is partnering with award winning and beloved DMV chef Ashish Alfred, as they each bring their own heritage to the table for a first-of-its-kind Mexico-meets-India collaboration. The mouthwatering Mexican and Indian fusion will be exclusively available at the Bethesda Tacombi taqueria (4749 Bethesda Ave) for a limited-time-only from October 26 through Thanksgiving.

In what Chef Alfred calls a “synergy of two different flavor profiles in two different cultures,” the brand new Chicken Tikka Masala Taco features garam masala, ginger, and butter chicken sauce, wrapped in a Vista Hermosa corn tortilla, finished with cotija cheese. This cross-cultural creation is another innovation from Tacombi, the Mexican taqueria known for its full-flavor tacos, cocktails and ice-cold beers, which operates 20 popular taquerias across the DMV, NYC and Miami metro areas. Drawing on rich culinary traditions from distinct regions of Mexico, Tacombi’s menu offers a variety of authentic full-flavor tacos alongside traditional Mexican bites complemented by ice-cold beers and cocktails.

NYC’s Chip City Sets Opening Date for First DMV Location

By MCS Staff

Published October 20, 2023 at 12:14PM

Last November, we let you know that New York‘s Chip Citywill be opening its first Maryland location at the Shoppes of Bethesda, replacing Fancy Cakes By Leslie at 4939 Elm St. Fancy Cakes by Leslie closed in October 2022. A commercial permit was issued at the beginning of the summer for a $210,000 buildout at the location and now the opening date has been announced– Friday, November 3rd.

Five years ago, cookies were a side hustle for Theodore Gailas and Peter Phillips. Since then, they’ve opened over a dozen Chip City cookie shops in and around New York with plans to expand outside of the area. Chip City is expected to rapidly expand, with over 20 stores expected to open in 2023. According to Forbes, The rollout plan will be supported by the founder of fast casual restaurant Shake Shack, Danny Meyer, who recently invested $10 million in the cookies.

Poke Bros. Moves Closer Towards Opening in Kentlands

By MCS Staff

Published October 20, 2023 at 10:13AM

In January we let you know that Poke Bros will be opening its first Maryland location in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood. The restaurant, which opened its first location in 2016 and has since expanded to over 75 restaurants across the country, will be taking over the space that was previously home to Next Day Blinds at 107 Market St W until 2020. Permanent signage went up earlier this summer, and now interior work is nearing completion (photo below). An opening date is not yet available, but it appears that it will be open this fall.

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.

MoCo’s Last Boston Market Has Closed Permanently

By MCS Staff

Published October 18, 2023 at 7:25PM

Boston Market has closed its last remaining Montgomery County location, as the restaurant at 3825 Aspen Hill Rd in Northgate Plaza (Aspen Hill) has closed permanently (photos below). Boston Market closed its Gaithersburg location back in April also closed its White Oak location in early 2020. The restaurant chain is dealing with various issues across the country, as detailed in this Finance Buzz article.

Last January we reported that Boston Market would be opening a new Rockville Pike location, according to signage that was put up at the old Katsu Go location in Towne Plaza (the shopping center that’s home to Navy Federal Credit Union and PM Pediatrics) at 12238 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852. In December, we spoke with a klnb representative who told us that Boston Market signed a lease, but had pulled out of the space. Boston Market was founded as Boston Chicken in 1985.

Fight Breaks Out Before Public Hearing on Restaurant Tips

By Patrick Herron

Published October 17, 2023 at 5:09PM

At the hearing, proponents of Bill 35-23 said it would reduce wage theft and help working families, while opponents of the bill said it would lower profits, increase prices for customers, and reduce the income that tipped employees currently earn. The bill would adjust the calculation of the minimum wage for tipped workers and phase out the tip credit amount under the Montgomery County’s minimum wage law. Currently, businesses are required to pay servers $4.00 per hour; if a server does not make the current minimum hourly wage ($15-16.70) per hour, employers are required to make up the difference.

If the bill passes, there will be incremental increases over the next five years:
• $4.00 per hour, until July 1, 2024;
• $6.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2025;
• $8.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2025 until July 1, 2026;
• $10.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2026 until July 1, 2027; and
• $12.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2027 until July 1, 2028

Tropics Ice Cream & Jerk Has Closed

By Patrick Herron

Published October 17, 2023 at 11:41AM

Tropics Ice Cream & Jerk at 9324 Georgia Ave in Silver Spring has permanently closed, according to a report by Source of the Spring. The restaurant, which originally opened as Tropical Café, served York Castle Caribbean Ice, Jamaican patty’s, smoothies, and jerk chicken. The location is currently available to lease on LoopNet.

Last week, Milk & Honey, a southern inspired brunch and soul food restaurant which has locations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, opened in the space next door at 9326 Georgia Avenue. The news of its opening was first reported by Source of the Spring.

Thai Cottage Bistro is Coming to Rockville

By MCS Staff

Published October 16, 2023 at 3:30PM

Thai Cottage Bistro is coming to Rockville, taking over the space that was previously home to Oishii Bluefin at 9613-G Medical Center Drive. Oishii Bluefin closed permanently earlier this year.

We don’t have much information on Thai Cottage Bistro at the moment, but we know that the restaurant has its hearing for a beer and wine alcohol license with Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services (ABS) at 11:30am on November 2. There hasn’t been much change to the interior yet, but remodeling has started (photo below).

Latest Update on the Reopening of Olney Ale House (October 2023)

By MCS Staff

Published October 16, 2023 at 2:06PM

Back in March we let you know that the 100-year old building that is home to the Olney Ale House was sold to Two Sibs LLC, led by Selim Kantar, for $1.45 million. Olney Ale House, located at 2000 Olney Sandy Spring Rd (Rt. 108 and Doctor Bird Rd.), operated in the space until a kitchen fire caused the restaurant to shut down in 2019. We spoke with new owner Selim Kantar today, who told us that they are still chipping away and anticipate a spring 2024 opening.

The restaurant will keep the Olney Ale House name and operate with an updated menu and new cocktails. Kantar tells us that work is just getting started and that there is a lot of it that has to be done before the restaurant is ready to open, so a 2024 opening is the most likely scenario. We will have updates for you as the restaurant continues with renovations and moves closer toward opening. Below we share with you the restaurant’s rich history, courtesy of the previous Olney Ale House website: