Restaurants Archives - Page 197 of 338

The Organic Butcher Opens Bethesda Location

Published March 10, 2023 at 5:07PM | Updated March 13, 2023 at 4:45PM

The Organic Butcher has opened its Bethesda location at 7925 Old Georgetown Rd, taking over the space previously occupied by French restaurant Le Vieux Logis. Modeled after the old-fashioned English butcher shops, The Organic Butcher is a full-service, traditional butcher shop with its first shop located in McLean, VA.

Per the Organic Butcher, “Walk into our quaint setting and you’ll be engulfed by fresh meat, seafood and local produce. You will also find an accompaniment of boutique wines, artisan cheese, and unique grocery items. Enjoy the old world-influenced, traditional butcher-shop atmosphere while knowing that the goods you take home are free of antibiotics and hormones. We offer certified organic as well as sustainably sourced meat and poultry much of which is locally sourced. There is always an experienced butcher behind the counter to help you select the perfect cut of meat, game, poultry or seafood as well as provide you information on our farms and cooking tips on how to best prepare your purchases in your own kitchen.”

Rakugaki to Soft Open on Saturday, March 11

By MCS Staff

Published March 10, 2023 at 4:26PM

Back in February we let you know that Bethesda favorite Raku will open Rakugaki at the Shops at Wildwood. Many have noticed some movement inside the restaurant and even customers coming in and out for friends and family events the last couple days. The restaurant has announced its soft opening starting Saturday, March 11 (hours are currently listed as “11am-close”). Full menu available below.

The 2,188-square-foot restaurant is located at 10223 Georgetown Road near Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream. Raku’s Bethesda and Cathedral Heights locations as well as Rakuya at Dupont Circle remain open. 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.”

New Restaurant By The People Behind Zinnia and Republic To Open This Spring

By MCS Staff

Published March 8, 2023 at 12:20PM

Restaurateur Chris Brown (Zinnia, Soko & Takoma Bev Co) and Executive Chef Danny Wells (Republic, Zinnia and Takoma Bev Co.) team up to launch a new restaurant with a bold name, Motorkat. Motorkat will be located in the heart of Takoma Park in the space formerly home to Republic restaurant (6939 Laurel Ave). The Motorkat concept is inspired by Takoma Park’s activist roots and the menu will revolve around a high quality sourced raw bar and a seasonally-led wood-fired culinary experience. Its bar program will feature extraordinarily balanced cocktails with irreverent names and a unique local rotating draft beer program. The restaurant is aiming for a spring 2023 soft opening (photos below).

“The city is well known for its affinity to symbolize animal inspired heroes like city mascot Roscoe the Rooster, but Motorkat was first,” said Danny Wells, Co-owner, Executive Chef and Takoma Park native. “Motorkat is a legend, who cruised the streets of Takoma Park on a motorcycle, inspiring the community around her to live fast. We centered our concept around this symbolism and the progressive roots of Takoma Park.”

Capo Deli Moves Closer to Opening in Cabin John Village

By MCS Staff

Published March 8, 2023 at 8:51AM

Almost a year ago, we let you know that Capo Italian Deli will be opening a new location in Cabin John Village. It will be taking over the location that was previously home to Goldberg’s New York Bagels, which closed last year, at 7731 Tuckerman Lane. While an opening date isn’t yet available, the deli has a hearing with Montgomery County’s ABS for a Class BD, Beer, Wine & Liquor License, Beer & Wine On/Off Sale and Liquor On-Sale Only. The hearing will take place at 10am on Thursday, March 16z

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 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. The menu includes Italian classics like Chicken Parmigiano, Hot Italian Beef, Prosciutto & Provolone, and more.

Naz’s Halal Sets Opening Date for White Oak Location; Offering Free Food For Two Hours on Opening Day

By MCS Staff

Published March 8, 2023 at 8:43AM

After a little bit of a wait for eager diners, Naz’s Halal has let us know that the restaurant at 11209 New Hampshire Ave in White Oak, the former location of White Oak Dry Cleaners, will hold its Grand Opening on Saturday, March 11th. The restaurant will also be offering free food from 12pm-2pm on the same day (QR code for free food below). Naz’s Halal offers rice platters, sandwiches, gyros, wings, salads, and more.

The first location outside of New York was also in MoCo, at the Burtonsville Town Center, next to Tropical Smoothie Cafe. That location opened in August 2020 and has become a local favorite with late night hours. The restaurant has since opened locations in Rockville and Germantown with an additional MoCo location planned for Takoma Park (7653 New Hampshire Ave).

Update on MoCo’s First Red Ribbon Bakeshop

By MCS Staff

Published March 6, 2023 at 8:05AM

In December we let you know that Red Ribbon Bakeshop, a Filipino bakery chain, is coming to Wheaton. The bakery will be 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. Red Ribbon Bakeshop announced on its social media in November that it is hiring a General Manager for the location and has since added coming soon signage, but there is still plenty of construction left to go inside (photo below). Though we don’t have an opening date, we suspect the bakery to be at least a couple months away from opening.

More about Red Ribbon: In 1979, Amalia Hizon Mercado, husband Renato Mercado together with their five children, Consuelo Tiutan, Teresita Moran, Renato Mercado, Ricky Mercado and Romy Mercado established Red Ribbon as a small cake shop along Timog Avenue in Quezon City. The cakes developed by daughter Teresita Moran are what gave Red Ribbon its prominence in the dessert market of the Philippines. In 1984, it opened its first overseas outlet in West Covina, California. The company began franchising in 1999. Today, there are more than 200 branches all over the Philippines and 39 in the United States as it continues to expand.

Big Greek Cafe Opens Laurel Restaurant

By MCS Staff

Published March 4, 2023 at 3:18PM

Big Greek Cafe has officially opened its seventh location with the Laurel store, located at 13600 Baltimore Ave, now open daily from 11am until 9pm. This is the local restaurant chain’s second location outside of Montgomery County after opening a restaurant in Urbana in 2022.

Big Greek Cafe opened its first location in Downtown Silver Spring in 2009 and has quickly grown to become a favorite across the county. In addition to Urbana and Downtown Silver Spring, there are currently locations in Bethesda, Hillandale, Kensington, and Rockville. More on the history of Big Greek Cafe:

Ramen Vending Machine Now Serving in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Published March 2, 2023 at 3:27PM

Yi Fang, a Taiwanese fruit tea spot, opened its first DMV location at 777 Hungerford Drive in Rockville just over two years ago and for the last year or so many have wondered about the Ramen vending machine that located towards the front of the store that was has been “coming soon” for a while. We can now report that it is officially serving ramen.

Kenta Robotics, which created the machine, has let us know that the ramen vending machine has “soft opened” and is currently offering 20% off ramen (already included in the price listed on the machine). The machine allows you to make your selection between spicy tan tan, signature chicken tonkotsu, fresh seafood udon, and vegetarian udon. Then you make your payment and the ramen is made for you within minutes. A Yi Fang employee told us they did not know how long the 20% off promotion would last.

Sardi’s Has Reopened in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Published February 28, 2023 at 9:12PM

Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa at 430 N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg has reopened following a February 2 after their fire in the restaurant’s ductwork that activated its sprinkler system. This incident occurred approximately two weeks before another issue with the exhaust system at the restaurant’s Olney location cause that restaurant to close for an evening.

We spoke with owner Phil Sardelis who let us know that the safety of the Sardi’s employees and customers is always his number one priority. “The exhaust system at every Sardi’s location is cleaned every two weeks and unfortunately the recent situations have been freak occurrences.” Sardelis told us. Insurance claims were not filed for the recent fires at both the Gaithersburg and Olney location as the ultimate goal has been to fix any potential issue and get the restaurants open again. All Sardi’s restaurants are now open.

Beyond MoCo: Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month Set to Begin

By MCS Staff

Published February 27, 2023 at 12:15PM

Maryland Vegan Eats is hosting a ramped up version of what was previously Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week, as it has now become Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month. “Maryland Vegan Eats welcomes back returning restaurants and invites new restaurants to participate in a compassionate campaign by encouraging them to offer healthy, plant-based, and/or vegan items as part of their menu selections.” As of now, there aren’t any Montgomery County restaurants participating, but many in nearby areas with the ability for your favorite MoCo restaurants to join, according to Maryland Vegan Eats.

“Maryland is an exciting and vibrant state full of unique counties, towns, and neighborhoods boasting incredible diversity. Nothing brings people and community together quite like good food. The mission of Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month (formally known as Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week) is to bridge the gap by increasing the awareness, benefits, and accessibility of a plant-based diet through a fun, innovative, and community-based experience.” Additional information can be found here. Below is a video of MoCo vegan restaurant, St. Veg, courtesy of Taste MoCo.

Gregorio’s Hopes to Open Park Potomac Location By Fall; Signs New Lease at Cabin John Village

By MCS Staff

Published February 27, 2023 at 8:48AM | Updated February 27, 2023 at 9:08AM

In September 2021, we let you know that Gregorio’s Trattoria would be opening its third MoCo location, and fourth overall, at Park Potomac– taking over the space that was previously home to Sugo. Sugo closed its doors permanently last in the summer of 2021. According to a report by Store Reporter, Gregorio’s is now aiming for a September opening after encountering issues replacing the HVAC system in the Park Potomac Space.

Gregorio’s started out in Reston in 2008 and opened a second location in what’s now Cabin John Village in Potomac. The restaurant opened its second MoCo location in November 2020 at the Shops at Sumner Place in Bethesda, in the spot that was home to China Pavilion for over two decades until it closed almost three years ago. For those concerned about the Cabin John Village location’s future, Store Reporter also mentioned that Gregorio’s has signed a new ten year lease to remain in the shopping center.