Washingtonian released its ‘Best of Summer: Where We’d Have a Drink Right Now’ list that includes “new rooftop lounges, summery cocktails, terrific happy hour deals, and more reasons to raise a glass.” Zinnia is the beer & wine garden, cafè, tavern, and fine dining restaurant that took over the Mrs. K’s Tollhouse location at 9201 Colesville rd in Silver Spring, in October 2021, and was named ‘Best Tavern Garden.’

Per Washingtonian: “The grassy gardens at Silver Spring’s Zinnia are outfitted with lounge and picnic tables plus plenty of space for kids to run. A globetrotting menu combines fish ’n’ chips with family-style Aleppo lamb stew, Old World wines, and Maryland beers.


Last month we let you know that BoBaPop Tea Bar opened up inside the Kyoto Matcha location at 33 Maryland Ave Unit A in Rockville Town Square.  The store will officially hold a Grand Opening this weekend, with deals on drinks available both days.

BoBaPoP opened its location at 312 Main Street in the Kentlands in 2018 and was the first of the Vietnamese based company’s stores to open in the United States. BoBaPop opened its second MoCo location at 19847 Century Blvd, Unit J in Germantown, the former site of August 32, back in November.  The company has over 150 stores worldwide.


Philz Coffee, located at 7247 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, has closed permanently, according to the company website. The coffee shop is also listed as “permanently closed” on its Facebook page. Philz Coffee opened its Bethesda location in December of 2018. DC Area locations in Adams Morgan, Navy Yard, and Ballston remain open.

More on Philz Coffee: Founded more than 25 years ago by Phil Jaber, Philz Coffee has more than 55 stores across California and the Washington, DC region. With more than 20 unique, customized blends created by Phil, there are four million ways to enjoy Philz Coffee, each handcraft to the customer’s request.


The Pollo Campero located inside of Lakeforest Mall (701 Russell Ave) in Gaithersburg has officially announced it will  be closing when the new location at 426 N Frederick Rd, the former site of KFC, opens.  Representative from the Lakeforest location tell us that the new store is expected to open on July 17.

Pollo Campero has additional Montgomery County locations in Takoma Park and Wheaton. The Downtown Silver Spring location closed in December, 2021.


Lapu Lapu, the recently opened breakfast sandwich spot in the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg, announced a two day closure due to an air conditioning issue at the restaurant. Lapu Lapu is making the necessary repairs and hopes to reopen by Friday.

Earlier today we gave you a first look at the restaurant that has taken over the 325 square foot storefront that was formerly home to Tex-Mex restaurant Peppers, located at 216 Market Street W, next to Vasili’s in the Kentlands. Lapu Lapu hours are currently 7am-3pm Wednesday-Sunday, but for the now the restaurant plans to be closed until Friday, June 17th.


Summer House Santa Monica has reopened following a kitchen fire that caused approximately $25k in damages. The restaurant remained closed after the fire on Sunday and all of Monday before reopening at 4pm today.

From Sunday: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Units were called to the scene of a kitchen fire at Summer House Santa Monica on the 11800 block of Grand Park Avenue in the Pike & Rose development at approximately 4:30pm on Sunday afternoon, according to MCFRS PIO Pete Piringer.


Alyssa’s Mangoneadas is coming to 2670 University Blvd W in Wheaton, taking over the location that was recently home to El Olam Iglesia Pentecostal and previously home to Wheaton Tile Center and Doña Bessy’s Pupuseria.

As of now, we only know that mangoneadas will be on the menu. A mangoneada, which is also known as a chamango, chamoyada, mangollada, or mangonada, is a Mexican beverage that can double as a dessert. It’s mango-based, with fresh mangoes forming it’s foundation that’s sometimes supplemented with mango sorbet. The drink is sweet, spicy, and salty, and is often served with straws wrapped in tamarind paste and a dusting of tajin.


Popeyes has made plenty of recent moves within Montgomery County, recently opening new locations in Briggs ChaneyDowntown Silver Spring, and Gaithersburg. The fried chicken chain announced in April that it is set to open more than 200 new locations in the United States and Canada this year with additional locations in several other places around the world. Over half of the new Popeyes locations that are scheduled to open in 2022 will feature double drive-thrus, but it’s still unclear whether or not the new Clarksburg location will have a drive-thru.


Lapu Lapu at 216 Market St W. in Gaithersburg opened on Sunday, June 5, and is continuing its soft opening with a schedule of Wednesday-Sunday from 7am-3pm.  The new restaurant has taken over the 325 square foot storefront that was formerly home to Tex-Mex restaurant Peppers, located next to Vasili’s in the Kentlands. It will specialize in breakfast sandwiches and will have a few tables available for outdoor seating.

Lapu Lapu is the sister restaurant of popular Rockville restaurant Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly. Our very own Mr. MoCo picked up breakfast over the weekend and shared his experience, available below:


Chef Jose Andres, a Bethesda resident, restaurateur, and humanitarian, announced earlier today via Twitter that he will be opening a new restaurant in the Waldorf Astoria (formerly Trump Hotel), as a new location of his restaurant chain, The Bazaar, will open in the Old Post Office.

He announced the news in a video on Twitter that shows him speaking in front of the Old Post Office building while the bells from the clock tower chime behind him. “For whom the bells toll…for the new restaurant from Jose Andres at the Old Post Office. Boom.” Andres says in the video that can be seen below.


Summer House Santa Monica will remain closed for at least the first half of today as the popular Pike & Rose destination awaits inspections following a kitchen fire that caused approximately $25k in damages. The restaurant tells us they hope to reopen for dinner, but that it looks unlikely at the moment. We’ll have an update on the impending reopening of the restaurant as soon as we get word from Summer House.

From yesterday: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Units were called to the scene of a kitchen fire at Summer House Santa Monica on the 11800 block of Grand Park Avenue in the Pike & Rose development at approximately 4:30pm on Sunday afternoon, according to MCFRS PIO Pete Piringer.


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