Restaurants

Pines of Rome to Open Second MoCo Location (Pines of Rome Express) After Over 50 Years in Business

By MCS Staff

Last year, we let you know that Pines of Rome, a Bethesda staple for over 50 years, tabbed WashUrban to spearhead their first ever search for a second location. Pines of Rome has found a home for its newest venture, Pines of Rome Express, according to the restaurant’s website. It will be located at 121B Congressional Lane– the former home of Congressional Deli, a representative from the restaurant confirmed. The new restaurant is located beside/behind Mykonos Grill and near Bed Bath& Beyond.

The original restaurant, which will remain open, is located at 4918 Cordell Ave. in Bethesda. Pines of Rome moved to the location in 2017 and was previously located at 4709 Hampden Lane, opening in 1972.  The restaurant is known for its extremely popular white pizza, spaghetti & meatballs, and other traditional Italian dishes.

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Citizens & Culture Grand Opening to Take Place on Friday, June 16

By MCS Staff

Kaldi’s Social House founder Tsega Haile has opened 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 is currently in its soft opening phase and has a grand opening set for Friday, June 16th.

In addition to fine-dining, the 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.

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Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen Opens Today in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront

By MCS Staff

Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen at 229 Boardwalk Pl. in Gaithersburg opens today, Friday, June 9. Miss Toya’s is located in the 2,741SF space that was previously occupied by BGR and will serve southern-influenced dishes such as red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese, and a southern fried chicken sandwich.

The restaurant is part of Jeffeary Miskiri’s Miskiri Hospitality Group, which describes itself as a unique collective of Black, family and woman-owned products and restaurants in the DC area. Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen in Rio will be a fast-casual restaurant, while the Miss Toya’s Creole Kitchen at 923 Ellsworth Dr in Downtown Silver Spring is full-service (wait staff, etc.). Hours of operation (dinner only for now): Sunday – Thursday  4pm- 10pm, Friday and Saturday 4pm- 11pm.

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Smoothie King Now Open in Olney

By MCS Staff

Last September we let you know that Smoothie King will be opening an Olney location at the Olney Village Center. It will be taking over the 980 SF space that was previously home to Party USA at 18151 Village Center Drive, between IHOP and Pho & Grill. Smoothie King opened earlier this week.

Since taking the helm, owner/CEO Wan Kim has led efforts to transform the brand’s menu from being packed with sugar and artificial flavors and colors to being health-conscious and packed with whole fruits and organic, non-GMO ingredients. The main focus is not only giving Smoothie King guests the ability to customize smoothies according to their preferences, Kim says, but pushing  their product to more closely align with a healthier, active lifestyle.

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El Papi Real Street Tacos is Coming to Rockville

By MCS Staff

El Papi Real Street Tacos is coming to Rockville’s Pike Kitchen (1066 Rockville Pike). The restaurant, which currently has a location in Camp Springs (Prince George’s County), hopes to open its Pike Kitchen location in July.

According to the Washington Post, which named “Most of the tacos at El Papi are wrapped in two warm, corn-scented tortillas and garnished with cilantro and onions. The onions are usually diced into uniform squares, though occasionally they’re cut into thin strips, as if the kitchen peeled each layer of the bulb and softened them into almost translucent slivers. These are the standard garnishes at El Papi, the sign will inform you. Don’t bother to ask for sour cream, lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese or even pico de gallo. You won’t find them here.”

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Dunkin’ Now Open in Montgomery Village

By Patrick Herron

Dunkin’ Donuts is now open at at 20000 Goshen Rd. (former Capital One Bank building) in the Goshen Crossing Shopping Center in Montgomery Village. While the store is now open for business, we’re told Dunkin’ will hold its official grand opening/ribbon cutting on Saturday, July 8, in which Dunkin’ typically gives away free coffee for one year to the first 100 guests.

Dunkin’ has been making a big push lately in Montgomery County, with its newest location at the Layhill Center (14328 Layhill Rd) in Silver Spring. Dunkin’ also has upcoming locations in Rockvilleand Chevy Chase. Since Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins in late 2020 for $11.3 billion, the company has been opening in former bank locations that allow for easy installation of a drive-thru window. Dunkin has also aimed for non-traditional development that includes opening in airports and on college campuses, including the University of Maryland.

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Mi Mariachi to Take Over Nava Thai Space in Wheaton

By MCS Staff

Mi Mariachi Bar & Grill will take over the space that was recently home to Nava Thai and previously home to Sir Walter Raleigh at 11301 Fern St in Wheaton. Nava Thai closed in February after approximately 16 years at the location.

It is unclear at this time if this version of Mi Mariachi is related to the Mi Mariachi that was previously in Wheaton at 2715 University Blvd W. This version of the restaurant incorporated in April 2023 and has an Alcoholic Beverage Services (ABS) hearing for its alcohol and liquor license on Thursday, June 15th at 1pm. We’ll have additional information as it becomes available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

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Sprinkles in Potomac is Available to Purchase For New Price

By MCS Staff

Popular Potomac dessert spot, Sprinkles, which was listed for sale on BizBuySell last year for $850K is currently listed on the site at a newer price of $599,999. The 34-year-old family owned ice cream store and bakery is located in the Potomac Village shopping center and is described as being approximately 600-700SF. All assets will transfer with sale– including “existing inventory, ice cream and frozen yogurt machines, bakery oven and equipment etc.” The store is also touting a brand new HVAC system and floor in the kitchen, an in-store bathroom for employee use, a seating area for customers, and describes itself as “the only ice cream store in the Village and within at least a 3-5 mile drive.”

Additional information, per the listing: “Sprinkles Won Best Dessert place in Potomac Maryland in 2022 from Potomac Lifestyle Magazine. We are a woman owned, family-run, small business that has been serving the community for 33 years. Sprinkles is a staple in this community and is a favorite of families for over three generations. Hand made ice cream and frozen yogurt shop that has expanded to sell baked goods, gourmet candies & treats and novelty gift items. We have major corporate and non-profit clients including, but not limited to: Akin Gump, PNC Bank, Make-A-Wish Foundation, RSM, DC United, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Serco, etc. Corporate gift box business for Fortune 100 companies – Verizon, Marymount University, etc, nationwide. WE ARE NOT a franchise- it is a stand alone store.“

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Pollo Campero to Open in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Pollo Campero is coming to the dining terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda). It will be taking over the space recently occupied by Greek Aroma Grill. Menu items include fried and grilled chicken, empanadas, yuca, plantains, and flan.  No opening date has been announced.

Pollo Campero has additional Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, and Wheaton. The fried chicken chain, which originated in Guatemala, opened its first location in 1971 and has grown to over 400 locations worldwide, including over 70 in the United States.

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