Restaurants Archives - Page 218 of 358

Construction Begins at Kensington Crossing

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

Los Amigos Opens in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, February 14th

By MCS Staff

Published February 12, 2023 at 5:07PM

Last month we reported that Texas Parrillada at 9631 Lost Knife Rd in Gaithersburg has closed with the restaurant’s last day of service being on Sunday, January 1. It will be replaced by Los Amigos– an authentic Mexican restaurant. The restaurant will hold its grand opening on Tuesday, February 14th. The full menu can be seen below and the restaurant is offering a 50% discount on opening day.

Texas Parillada had a long run in the Montgomery Village Crossing shopping center, which is home to BLT Grill, Hook & Reel, and Roy Rogers. The restaurant offered menu items that included Tex-Mex staples like burritos, carne asada, enchiladas, and tacos.

Damso Korean BBQ Taking Over Saffron Indian Cuisine Location in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Published February 12, 2023 at 2:23PM

In October, we let you know that a new Korean barbecue restaurant signed on to take over the space previously occupied by Saffron Indian Cuisine at Woodmont Station in Rockville (1319 Rockville Pike). We now know that restaurant is Damso Korean BBQ.

Construction is ongoing and signage is up at the upcoming Korean bbq restaurant. A hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) is scheduled for next month and a mid 2023 opening likely for the restaurant. Saffron Indian Cuisine occupied the space from 2014 until it closed in May 2022. Featured photo by @YaoFomo on Instagram

Washingtonian’s 100 “Very Best Restaurants” List Contains Five MoCo Restaurants

By MCS Staff

Published February 11, 2023 at 6:26PM | Updated February 12, 2023 at 3:38PM

Washingtonian Magazine released its list of its 100 “very best restaurants” in the D.C. Metro area, the first since early 2020. The list contains a few restaurants right here in Montgomery County. Below, you’ll see the Montgomery County restaurants listed without having to sift through the ones that may be a little out of the way. On the Washingtonian’s list, the first 25 are ranked and the next 75 are listed alphabetically. Looking for other great local restaurants that may not have made this list? Our very own, Taste MoCo, had hundreds of dishes from MoCo restaurants if you’re interested in “seeing the dish.” See below:

6. Inferno Pizzeria (12207 Darnestown Rd., Gaithersburg, MD): Inferno was opened at 12207 Darnestown Rd. by Chef Tony Conte back in 2015. Last summer, USA Today published a ‘Top 50 Pizzerias in the US’ list, “as ranked by Italian pizza experts.” The list was created by 50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation site in Paestum, Italy, not far from Naples. New York City reigns supreme with 9 pizzerias on the list, but Montgomery County contributed with the 25th ranked pizzeria in the country– Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, located in Darnestown/Gaithersburg.