Restaurants Archives - Page 198 of 338

Naz’s Halal Hopes to Open White Oak Location in March

Published February 27, 2023 at 8:30AM

After a little bit of a wait for eager diners, Naz’s Halal has let us know that they hope to open next month at 11209 New Hampshire Ave in White Oak, the former location of White Oak Dry Cleaners. The restaurant could open as early as the first week of March, but has a couple things left to do before that can happen. 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).

This MoCo Restaurant is Open 16 Hours Per Week and Has Lines Into The Parking Lot Most Days

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 11:01PM

Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana has been open in Gaithersburg (12207 Darnestown Rd.) for nearly 7.5 years. As of this past Saturday, there was still a line into the parking lot full of eager diners hoping to get a table before the dough ran out for the night– something that’s a common occurrence for Inferno (see our video below). For those unfamiliar with the restaurant, it was opened by Chef Tony Conte in October 2015 after he spent nine years in DC’s Oval Room. Inferno specializes in pizza, but regulars will tell you that the appetizers are often just as much of a draw.

The restaurant is currently open four days a week– Wednesday through Saturday, from 5pm-9pm…or until the dough runs out. Sometimes that can be pretty early, so if you’re interested in getting a seat we would highly recommend getting there before the restaurant opens and lining up outside. If you want to eat the pizza at home, you can call in your order earlier in the afternoon and pick it up when the restaurant opens at 5pm to take with you, but even carry-out orders are limited to ensure enough dough for customers dining in each day.

Citizens & Culture Coming This Spring to Silver Spring

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 6:05PM

This Spring 2023, Kaldi’s Social House founder Tsega Haile will open Citizens & Culture – a 15,000 square feet, multi-level fine dining and live DJ and band performance venue located on the border of downtown Silver Spring and Washington, DC. The Georgia Avenue restaurant and music venue brings a unique concept to the DC-area featuring a ground-floor front patio for outdoor seating leading into an expansive, vaulted ceiling main dining room with full length bar and an exclusive new menu by Executive Chef Ryan Hackney (DC-based chef known for appearances on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and Bite Club) and Chief Chef Consultant and Director for Kaldi’s Social House Jessica Shields.

Per the press release: “As a native Washingtonian I’m excited about the opportunity to debut a menu that will reflect the diversity of the DMV’s food culture while staying true to the elevated tasting experience that now defines our regional dining scene,” says Executive Chef Ryan Hackney. The upper level is accessed by a separate ground-floor entrance leading to the top floor restaurant-lounge with lofted DJ booth and a retractable, glass roof providing an open-air concept for sunny days. The lounge also features a retractable glass door wall leading onto an outdoor terrace with sweeping views of downtown Silver Spring. “My goal has always been to provide community spaces that feature unique, high-concept food and beverage in a special environment for my patrons,” says founder Tsega Haile. “With Citizens & Culture I want to share my love for our local culture and continue to spotlight downtown Silver Spring as an entertainment destination in the DMV and beyond.”

Construction Begins at Kensington Crossing

By MCS Staff

Published February 22, 2023 at 5:20PM

It has been over two years since we let you know about the initial plans Kensington Crossing at 10619 Connecticut Avenue (at Plyers Mill Road). Since then, the plans were approved, and Kensington Crossing has already signed it’s first three tenants– M&T Bank, Buffalo Wild Wings GO, and Mezeh. Construction recently began at the site and a couple photos, along with additional information about each tenant, available below:

M&T Bank, which currently has a Kensington location on Howard Avenue, signed on as its first tenant to take over its largest space (2,635 SF). A representative from the Howard Avenue location has told us that the plan is for the branch to relocate to the new space once it’s ready to go.

Oliva’s Kitchen Now Open in Bethesda

By MCS Staff

Published February 22, 2023 at 11:12AM

Oliva’s Kitchen opened this morning at 4708 Highland Ave in Bethesda, the former home of Taco Fresco. Taco Fresco opened in the location in November of 2021 and was available for sale approximately 6 months later. Oliva’s Kitchen is offering free coffee today (Open from 7am-4pm) and will offer breakfast, lunch, and Mexican food, according to the restaurant’s Instagram account.

Breakfast options include egg sandwiches, Belgian waffles, breakfast tortes, Huevos Mexicanas, and more. Lunch sandwiches include the Cubano, Torta Milenasa, Buffalo Chicken, Steak & Cheese, and others. Full menu can be seen below:

&Pizza Will Not Be Opening Olney Location This Year

By MCS Staff

Published February 21, 2023 at 1:39PM

We have received confirmation from a representative at &Pizza that the company will no longer opening an Olney location this year.

Back in September of 2021 we let you know that &Pizza would be coming to Olney’s Fair Hill Shopping Center. At that time, we didn’t have an exact location, noting that it would likely take over a spot that was home to an existing business. The pizza shop was then going to take over the storefront that was formerly home to Olney Winery, but that has fallen through as a representative has told us that &Pizza will not be opening Olney “this year.” The storefront is once again available for lease.

Maryland Legislature to Look at Bill That Would No Longer Count Tips Towards Minimum Wage

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 7:11AM

Maryland legislature will be looking at a bill on March 2 that would abolish the “tip credit”. Employers in the state of Maryland (and most other states across the country) are permitted to count customer tips toward the minimum hourly wage they must pay to certain service employees. This is often referred to as a “tip credit.” A tip credit allows the employer to pay employees a wage that is less than the minimum wage by relying on tips the employee receives from customers to make up the difference. In November, DC voted to approve “Initiative 82”, which gradually eliminates the tip credit until its fully eliminated by 2027.

Synopsis of the bill, courtesy of the Maryland General Assembly: Specifying a certain tip credit amount that is in effect for certain time periods; prohibiting certain employers of tipped employees, beginning July 1, 2027, from including a tip credit amount as part of the employees’ wages; and requiring the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish the High Road Kitchen Program as a recognition program for restaurants that do not include the tip credit as part of certain employees’ wages.

Local Bartender, Drew Gardner, Nominated for “Bartender of the Year” by Maryland Restaurant Association

By MCS Staff

Published February 17, 2023 at 8:47AM

If you’ve been to Quincy’s South in North Bethesda/Rockville, you’ve likely encountered Drew Gardner’s smiling face, joyful personality, and effective service. While it hasn’t been a secret for local, the Quincy’s bartender is now getting statewide recognition after his nomination for “Bartender of the Year” by the Maryland Restaurant Association.”

In addition to Bartender of the Year, the voting categories include Chef of the Year, Manager of the Year, Server of the Year. Gardner is the only person employed in Montgomery County to be nominated. Anyone interested can view the ballot and vote here. “I’ve recently received the honor of being nominated as Bartender of the year by the Maryland Restaurant Association. As 1 of 5 individuals selected I’m truly humbled to be part of this group.” Gardner wrote.

Barra Brava Signage Now Up at Upcoming Burtonsville Location

By MCS Staff

Published February 16, 2023 at 2:38PM | Updated February 16, 2023 at 3:30PM

We previously let you know that Barra Brava Cevicheria Peruana is “coming soon” to the location that was previously home to Old Hickory Grill at 15420 Old Columbia Pike B in Burtonsville. Signage is now up at the restaurant. Barra Brava opened its first location at 15921 N Frederick Rd in Rockville in October of 2017. The restaurant hopes to open in a few months.

The menu consists of seafood entrees, a variety of ceviches, non-seafood entrees like lomo saltado, aji de gallina, and more. We’ll have a specific opening timeframe/date in the coming months. Photos of some of the dishes available at the Rockville location can be seen below:

Sardi’s/Olney Station to Reopen Tuesday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published February 14, 2023 at 11:18AM

Sardi’s/Olney Station (3418 Olney Laytonsville Rd, Olney) will open at 11am on Tuesday following an issue with the exhaust system that caused the restaurant to temporarily close on Monday night. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) and county health inspectors have cleared the restaurant to reopen for business as usual starting Tuesday morning.

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. The Gaithersburg location will likely reopen in a few weeks as they await the arrival and installation of a fan for the exhaust system.

Roaming Rooster to Celebrate Grand Opening of its Gaithersburg Location with Ribbon Cutting, Balloon Arch, and Photo Booth on Feb. 15

By MCS Staff

Published February 13, 2023 at 3:04PM

The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) will be hosting a ribbon cutting for Roaming Rooster to celebrate its newest location in Gaithersburg. Roaming Rooster is a Black-owned business that started as food truck in 2015 and opening its first brick-and-mortar in 2018. Roaming Rooster won the 39^th Annual RAMMY Award for the “Hottest Sandwich Shop” from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. The GGCC encourages guests to stay for lunch after the ribbon cutting and support its newest member.

What: Ribbon cutting to celebrate second restaurant in Montgomery County, appetizers, balloon arch and photo booth for guests