Restaurants

Bill to Increase Wages for Tipped Employees in Montgomery County to be Introduced

By Patrick Herron

A bill that would increase wages for tipped employees will be introduced at the Montgomery County Council meeting on Tuesday, September 19. Bill 35-23, County Minimum Wage – Tipped Employees 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.

The bill’s lead sponsors are Councilmembers Will Jawando and Kristin Mink. Per Montgomery County, “The tip credit represents an amount of the minimum wage a worker is expected to receive in tips. The current amount of the credit is the hourly minimum wage minus four dollars or a lesser credit if the employee or representative of the employee satisfies the Executive Director of the Office of Human Rights that the employee receives a lesser amount in tips. The limit and phase-out of the tip credit would be staggered over multiple years as proposed in the legislation.”

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Aventino, AP Pizza Shop Scheduled to Open By The End of The Year

By MCS Staff

MoCo resident Chef Mike Friedman (Olney), Colin McDonough, Gareth Croke, and Mike O’Malley, the team behind DC restaurants All-Purpose Pizzeria, The Red Hen, and Boundary Stone Public House will be opening a new concept in Downtown Bethesda this November (date according to Washingtonian Magazine). Aventino and AP Pizza Shop will be located at 4747 Bethesda Ave.

Aventino will feature vibrant and traditional Roman cuisine with a menu of antipasti, pasta and more by chef Mike Friedman, and classic cocktails like a selection of spritzes and negronis, in a warm and inviting setting that can hold over 100 guests. Per Washingtonian,the menu will include “dishes like Jewish-­style fried artichokes, polenta-crusted fluke, and housemade gelato.”

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The First ‘Taste of Rio’ Will Take Place This October

By MCS Staff

The first ‘Taste of Rio’ will take place on Sunday, October 15th from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. The “foodie celebration” will take place on the lakefront featuring bites from rio restaurants, live music, craft cocktails and more.

Participating restaurants include: AMC, Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon, BurgerFi, California Pizza Kitchen, Charley Prime, Chipotle, Copper Canyon Grill, Corner Bakery, Dave & Buster’s, Donutchew, Fantasticks, FineWine.com, Guapo’s, Han Spot, Kung Fu Tea, Lanzhou Pull Noodle, Le Macaron, Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen, Muse Paint Bar, Nando’s Peri-Peri, Poki DC, Potbelly, Silver Diner, Starbucks, The Bench, True Food Kitchen, Uncle Julio’s, and Yard House.

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Where to Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day (September 18) in MoCo

By Patrick Herron

National Cheeseburger Day falls on Monday, September 18, and restaurants across the country are offering big discounts for the “holiday.” Below you’ll find a list of participating restaurants, as well as information on some of Montgomery County’s most famous burgers. Note: This listing will be updated when we hear of additional restaurant promotions.

Back in June, the Washington Post released its “10 Best Burgers in the D.C. Area” list and Montgomery County’s very own Steeze Burger was ranked the #1 burger in the area. Laytonsville resident Hunter Karametos, owner of Steeze Burger, started the pop-up burger business in 2022 after spending the better part of a year consuming over 150 different burgers for research.  According the article, “Topped with steamed onions, pickles and American cheese, it’s a burger that sends your needle into the red zone on first bite. Your brain cannot begin to process the experience, so it just goes along for the ride — delirious over this buttery and rewarding burger, the best around these parts.” Burgers from Soko Butcher (Takoma Park) and Quarry House Tavern (Silver Spring) were also listed in the article as “honorable mentions.” You can read the full top ten at www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/best-burgers-washington-dc. Follow @SteezeBurger on Instagram to find out where he’ll be popping up next.

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Margarita Bar & Grill Now Open in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Update: Margarita Bar & Grill is now open at 19201 Frederick Rd in Germantown and is offering 15% off for the entire week. 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 (see margarita menu below). 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.

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Butter Chicken House Now Open in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Butter Chicken House in the Montgomery Mall food terrace is currently holding its soft opening. 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. Full menu can be seen below. Our latest on what’s new at Westfield Montgomery Mall can be seen here.

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Latest Update on Wawa in Gaithersburg

By Patrick Herron

Construction continues to progress at the site of Montgomery County’s first Wawa, which will be located at the site of the old Becraft Antiques (405 S Frederick Ave.) on 355, across from Gaithersburg High School (photos below).  The store has also added job listings on its website for Customer Service Supervisor,  Team Supervisor (Overnights), and Customer Service Associate for the new location.

Wawa began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pa, in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa has become an “all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATMs, and Boundless Convenience. A chain of more than 950 convenience retail stores (over 750 offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as built-to-order hoagies , freshly brewed coffee , hot breakfast sandwiches , built-to-order specialty beverages , and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.”

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Healthy Meals for Children Bill Goes Into Effect Today

By Patrick Herron

Last March, Bill No. 1-22 Healthy Meals for Children, which requires restaurants in Montgomery County that offer a children’s meal to provide a healthy option (meal and drink) for their youngest customers, was passed. The first phase (healthy beverage option) went into effect in March, and the second phase (healthy meal option) goes into effect this Friday, September 15. This is the first bill of this nature to be fully implemented in the country. It should be noted that while a healthy option must be presented, customers are not limited in selecting any menu item of their choice. According to the bill, the healthy meals must be under 600 calories and include the following:

On Thursday, county leaders held a press conference at the Silver Diner (12276 Rockville Pike) in Rockville. Per the restaurant, “Silver Diner made it clear today that it supports Montgomery County, Maryland’s new legislation,  “Healthy Meals for Children” Bill. (Bill 1-22) that goes into effect on Friday, Sept. 15. The legislation requires food and restaurant facilities offering children’s meals to include healthy food and beverage options, something Silver Diner has been doing for more than 10 years.

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New and Coming Soon to Cabin John Village

By MCS Staff

A new roster of businesses are coming soon to Cabin John Village, according to a recent press release. Businesses including an integrative physiotherapy studio, a STEM preschool and new clothing and accessories boutiques, are being added to Cabin John Village to make the iconic Potomac shopping center a full-service destination. Completing the line-up are award-winning, chef-driven restaurants. Openings to Look Forward To*:  

1.       The Grove: Chef Jose Lopez-Picazo’s culinary vision inspired by the Mediterranean coast. (Fall 2023)  

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