Update: Now Open
Ssong’s Hotdogs, a popular South Korean chain, is opening what was the second announced U.S. location in the Montgomery Mall food court. We’ve been told it will open next week (but no specific date has been provided).
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Restaurants
Great Shoals Takoma Park to Close, Main Street Pearl Bubble Tea to Take Over
Our friends at Great Shoals Takoma Park announced that December 24th would be the location’s last day of business.
New Dunkin’ Almost Ready to Go on East Gude Drive
Dunkin’ has made a lot of progress since we last stopped by two weeks ago (featured photo is from our last visit), and we’re told it should be ready to open in early 2021.
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“Just a kid from Jersey with a dream.” The new food truck that serves New Jersey style hot dogs has opened for business today. The hot dogs will cost between $3-$5 and will include a variety of topping options. Per the Catalyst Hot Dogs website (menu available in link):
”Owner/operator, Chris Van Jura, has been a member of the Hospitality Industry for nearly 20 years. Over this time he has, on a daily basis, done what every Hospitalian does, which is put the attention and focus on the guest. During this time, he has relocated to the DMV, found love and started a family. He has devoted hundreds of hours to the needs of others—and now, through the pandemic and two furloughs, he has made a choice: We’re getting into the Hot Dog business!”
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MoCo Hidden Gems: Gardenia’s Café
When you enter Gardenia’s Café in Gaithersburg you are immediately given a warm welcome from owner, baker, and lifelong Gaithersburg resident Gardenia Ortega. She, along with her parents Fernando and Maritza, opened Gardenia’s Café this past February. Gardenia says “walking in those doors is just like walking into my house. From the bright colors, cleanliness, flowers, the smell of fresh food, and fresh ingredients.”
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Popular Wheaton Thai restaurant, Nava Thai, will reopen on December 3rd, according to a Facebook post from late last night. The Thai restaurant closed back in January for plumbing maintenance and was supposed to reopen in early March. In February, they addressed rumors of a permanent closure by assuring customers the restaurant would be returning, but that was the last message posted for over 9 months.
In July, the building was listed on LoopNet as being available for lease or rent, which further fueled speculation that the beloved restaurant would not be returning. All of those rumors were put to rest when the restaurant announced it would be returning with a limited menu for “takeout, limited dine-in, and delivery.”
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Royal Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine and Whiskey Bar Coming to Muddy Branch Square
Royal Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine & Whiskey Bar is scheduled to open this spring.
Lotus Grill and Bar Closes Permanently in Bethesda
The restaurant opened back in May of 2019 and offered a modern take on Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine, even offering pizza and tacos, on Elm Street in Bethesda, but a year and a half later it has closed permanently.
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New Gluten-Free Marketplace in Damascus!
A gluten-free marketplace, currently known as Impasta, just opened in Damascus. The marketplace sells a variety of gluten-free items made in house.
Two New Restaurants for Briggs Chaney Marketplace
Two new restaurants have recently opened in Briggs Chaney Marketplace in the last few weeks (Outlet Drive in Silver Spring).