Restaurants

Soulfull Cafe and Main Street Connect, a Rockville Inclusive Community and Cafe, Offering Ways to Give Back on MLK Day of Service, January 16

By MCS Staff

This year Soulfull Cafe and Main Street Connect, the inclusive community and café in downtown Rockville, are offering community members three ways to give back on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16th: Writing cards to patients at Children’s National Medical Center; making dog toys for Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, and preparing a meal for Stepping Stones Shelter. Volunteers can write cards and make dog toys from 11 – 1 in the cafe.  Main Street Members will also prepare meals that afternoon in Main Street’s “Poppy Boy’s Kitchen” (the meal preparation is open to Main Street Members only). Participants can register here.

Main Street Connect is the first community-oriented, affordable, accessible housing solution to redefine the concept of inclusion through membership and programming for people of all abilities. Our community is a culture of kindness, opportunity and possibility, improving quality of life for everyone. Main Street ismoving the needle for more inclusive communities across the nation.

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Five MoCo Restaurants Featured in the Washington Post’s List of ‘The D.C. area’s 10 best casual restaurants of 2022’

By MCS Staff

The Washington Post releases a yearly list of its “Top 10 Best Casual Restaurants” in the D.C. and half of the most recent list is comprised of five Montgomery County restaurants. Casual restaurants usually share some of the following characteristics: Customers are served at their table, food offerings are moderately priced, atmosphere is low-key, and decor is often unique and based on the type of food served As a general rule, casual dining restaurants fall between fine dining and fast-casual on the dining spectrum. Below we take a look at the five MoCo restaurants that have made the list:

10. Pupuseria Mama Emilia (785 Rockville Pike Suite H, Rockville, MD): Pupuseria Mama Emilia opened in the Ritchie Center in January 2022. The new restaurant took over the location was formerly home to Dokiya Ramen and Pho 95. Pupuseria Mama Emilia comes to you from the owners of Pupuseria La Familiar, which has locations in Beltsville, College Park, Falls Church (Virginia), and Wheaton in MoCo and boast of Mama Emilia’s family recipe. The menu at the existing restaurants consists of a variety of beverages, Pupusas, soups, and a multitude of Salvadoran dishes.

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Dunkin’ to Give Free Coffee and Breakfast Wraps to Blood Donors

By Patrick Herron

Dunkin’, which is in the process of adding several new locations in Montgomery County, is giving away Free coffee and “Wake-Up” wraps for American Red Cross donors as a part of National Blood Donor Month.  Per Dunkin’: January is National Blood Donor Month, a time to recognize the importance of giving blood and platelets while honoring those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need. To help drive awareness and blood donations this winter, Dunkin’ of the DMV is partnering with the American Red Cross to provide 20,000 coupons valid for (1) free Medium Hot or Iced Coffee and (1) free Egg & Cheese Wake-Up Wrap to blood donors in the region, redeemable at participating Dunkin’ restaurants throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.*

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

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Shark Tank Featured ‘Cousins Maine Lobster’ Announces DMV Expansion

By MCS Staff

Cousins Maine Lobster, a food truck concept and provider of Maine lobster rolls, has announced an expansion into Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C, bringing six food trucks to the region over the next 18 months. Cousins Maine Lobster appeared in Shark Tank over a decade ago to help launch expansion and began franchising in 2014. The deal marks their first multi-unit franchise sale.

Yunus Shahul joined the Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise Family when he launched his first food truck in Connecticut in September 2018. Six months later, Shahul added a second truck dedicated to New York City. For expansion into the DMV market, Yunus will partner with his brother, Thameem. The brothers have worked together for the last four years as Yunus grew his operations in New York and southern New England. Yunus currently owns and operates five trucks across his territories.

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KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot Moves Closer Toward Opening in Germantown

By MCS Staff

Last summer we let you know that KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot will be opening a second MoCo location, taking over the space that was previously occupied by Honey Pig at 19727 Frederick Rd #1337 in the Fox Chapel shopping center. Honey Pig closed permanently in November of 2021 after five years at the location. The restaurant, which is not owned by the same franchisee as the Rockville location, is moving closer towards opening as it has a hearing for a Class B, Beer, Wine & Liquor License at 11:30am on January 19th. An expected opening date is not yet available.

According to KPot, the restaurant was started by four friends from different backgrounds who decided to share their mixed cuisine over the same table. KPot combines traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors. Hot pot, also known as “soup-food” or “steamboat,” is a communal pot of simmering broth that is stuffed with raw ingredients like meat and vegetables to cook in the pot.

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Kung Fu Tea Has Opened in Olney

By MCS Staff

In November 2021 we let you know that Kung Fu Tea signed on to take over the location that’s as recently home to Yogi Berry, next to Starbucks in the same shopping center as Cava Mezze, CVS, and Cafe Rio at 3128 Olney Sandy Spring Road. After a few delays, the bubble tea spot is now open.

The Olney Kung Fu Tea location will also eventually offer TKK Fried Chicken and Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt. Neither are available at the location at this time. TKK Fried Chicken is a Taiwanese chain that specializes in fried chicken. They’ve been around since 1974 and have locations across Taiwan, China, and the United States. The menu consists of fried chicken, chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwiches, and more. Tutti is a frozen yogurt chain that has had several locations in Montgomery County.

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Dominic’s Italian Grille in Colesville Has Closed Permanently

By MCS Staff

Dominic’s Italian Grille, located at 12854 New Hampshire Ave in Colesville, has closed permanently. A post was made on the Dominic’s Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon, stating the following:

When a commenter asked if Gary was leaving or if Dominic’s was closing, the Dominic’s Italian Grille Facebook page replied with “Dominic’s has closed 😔.” In 2022, the owners of Dominic’s planned to open Bourbon, Wings, and Beer in the location that was formerly home to Buffalo Wings and Beer in Cloverly. Last month we received confirmation that the restaurant would no longer be opening.

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First 100 Customers at Renovated Derwood Wendy’s Could Get Free Food For a Year

By MCS Staff

A previous version of this article listed 808 Rockville Pike as the address of the Wendy’s being remodeled. The correct address is 15807 Frederick Road.

The first 100 customers at the renovated Wendy’s in Derwood could receive free food for a year. The renovated Wendy’s location at 15807 Frederick Rd will reopen on Saturday, January 28th. As the fast food chain did with its 18425 Woodfield Rd restaurant in Gaithersburg, they’ll give away 100 VIP ticket to those 16 and older and present in line at 10:30am when the dining room opens (a purchase is necessary to be considered for a card). Anyone who gets a VIP ticket will be able to come back to the store once a week for a year to receive a free sandwich, salad, or breakfast biscuit.

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Beyond MoCo: Dog Haus Biergarten is Opening a College Park Location

By MCS Staff

Back in May, Dog Haus announced that the company has executed a development agreement with local franchisees Faizan and Adila Khan to to open 15 new Dog Haus locations over the next five years. Cities listed include Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, Frederick and Germantown.  No specific information has been released on dates and locations, but now we know that a new College Park location will be opening soon will open in the new City Hall complex at 7401 Baltimore Ave.

Faizan Khan currently franchises three MoCo Dog Haus locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring. “We’re thrilled to see Faizan and Adila parlay their success with Dog Haus into expanding throughout the entire state of Maryland,” said Dog Haus Director of Franchise Development Erik Hartung in a press release. “Faizan has been a highly accomplished franchisee with Dog Haus by entering the restaurant industry with an incredibly unique, effective business strategy. We can’t wait to see this growth unfold and bring our one-of-a-kind creations to more markets throughout this great state!”

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Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant is Coming to Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Yesterday 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. Now we know that the restaurant will be replaced by Los Amigos– a Mexican restaurant. We are told the restaurant plans to offer authentic Mexican cuisine and hopes to open on January 18th:

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.

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Black Lion Cafe, Originally Scheduled to Open Second Location Today, Announces Delay

By MCS Staff

Over a year ago we let you know that Black Lion Café, which has a location in Rockville, will be opening a new location in the Fenton Silver Spring apartments at 8240 Fenton St in Silver Spring. After a previously planned November 1st opening that was pushed back, a new opening date of Monday, January 2nd was set. The cafe announced another delay on Instagram (post available below), stating that the “opening has been delayed, but not for long. Stay tuned for updates!”

The cafe opened its first location at the Traville Gateway shopping center in late 2016. Black Lion Café sources its coffee from three regions of Ethiopia known for producing some of the best tasting coffee beans in the world. Keffa, the region of Ethiopia that gave the name ‘coffee’ to the bean, Yergacheffe, and Harrar. Featured photo courtesy of Taste MoCo

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