Restaurants Archives - Page 217 of 358

Capo Deli Moves Closer to Opening in Cabin John Village

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.

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

By MCS Staff

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.”