It turns out it will be in The JBG Companies' Artery Plaza building, at 7200 Wisconsin Avenue. Fish Taco will take over a 2800 SF space there, which JBG has been offering with outdoor patio seating to prospective restaurant tenants.
A renovation of Artery Plaza, by HITT Contracting, is still underway. This quiet corner a Sonny Jurgensen throw from Bethesda Row could certainly use the activity a Fish Taco might generate. JBG also has a second space available for a potential restaurant, which would double the revitalization effort.
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| Patio dining area that's been marketed to prospective restaurant tenants recently |
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| View from patio dining area |
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| Promising "Bethesda's Next Great Restaurant"; JBG wants to remove the arch in front of this space to open up more patio dining area |
Bethesda Barbecue Co. status?
On the other end of the spectrum, Bethesda Barbecue Company on Elm Street has either closed, or just wants us to believe it has, by giving us a multitude of signs.
They've had a spotty schedule since a Pepco worker wreaked havoc on their business a few months back, snipping the wrong line under the street and damaging their kitchen equipment. The result was a long closure that certainly didn't help the restaurant's business.
But it's been closed on consecutive days recently, and the phone doesn't work anymore. The website has been down every time I tried it. There's even been mail sitting outside recently.
There's no official word on the restaurant's status (it's hard to get in touch when the phone is down, obviously), but it doesn't look good. Their Facebook page is still up, but hasn't been updated since May 2; same goes for their Twitter account.
If anyone from the restaurant can email an official update, I'll be glad to print it. A number of readers have been asking me about it over the last few weeks.
22 comments:
I hope it is Wahoo's Fish Taco.
Re-Elect BERLINER!!
How is Bethesda Barbecue Co. "on the other end of the spectrum" from Fish Taco?
The change to the BBQ concept was probably a hail Mary to begin with. I wonder if that space will stay a restaurant or if they will go the Soul Cycle route and bring in some big name retail or service.
5:51 one is showing signs of closing; the other is in early stages of planning to open. That's the two ends of the spectrum for you.
We still have Smoke BBQ. It's got good reviews.
Smoke BBQ tastes like it was made in a crockpot or microwaved.
Bethesda BBQ Co. is even worse!!
Think the Fish Taco in downtown Bethesda will serve alcohol? Would be nice to sit on that terrace and have a drink.
Glad to see Bethesda BBQ go. We tried to love it...again and again. But there was always something wrong. From filthy glassware to undercooked (and, once, uncooked) food, to those glaring lights in the bar, to bartenders who made the clods on Bar Rescue look professional. It all just seemed so wrong and unwelcoming. (But then, "going the Soul Cycle route," as 5:53 says, is also wrong and unwelcoming.)
Would be nice to have an outdoor bar like Montgomery Grill again.
5:51: I think 5:56 answered your question - one is opening, the other appears to be in trouble/closing.
Bring Montgomery Grill back.
Fish Taco will struggle in the artery plaza location but will do well in Wildwood. The downtown location will do lunch business during the week, none on the weekends and no dinner business at all. Bottom line, where do non-downtown worker patrons park without having to walk blocks to get there? Not going to happen.
Bethesda BBQ was doomed from the start. People don't seem to realize that you just can't open a BBQ joint without learning the craft and expect to make it. The PEPCO thing didn't help but people will drive 40 miles or more (and they do) to get good BBQ and no power mishap would keep them from coming. The BBQ trailer on Old Georgetown is absolutely atrocious and same goes for Smoke BBQ. It's horrible. If there are positive reviews, which I doubt, they don't know what they're talking about. Someone who takes the time to learn and gets a good location will make a lot of money with a BBQ concept. It boggles the mind how bad Bethesda restaurants are and that there's a wide perception they aren't.
@JAC I agree with all of your comments regarding restaurants in Bethesda. Where is the best place within driving distance to get good BBQ? I would make the trek!
There is plenty of parking for Fish Taco. Big surface lot across the street behind farmers market, and county garage on Bethesda Ave half a block away.
The problem, as Pittze and Villain & Saint have found, is that area is sort of dead on weekends in general.
@ 7:36 AM - "within driving distance" is relative, but if you're OK with Twinbrook or Glover Park, Urban BBQ (on Chapman Avenue) and Rocklands are very good and reasonably priced. Seating is limited at Rocklands, though.
Frederick (Black Hog) and Emmitsburg, MD (Chubby's) no frills decor but food is excellent.
JAC: What do you thikn about Smoke, Branded 72, and Rocklands? Those are closer to me so I'd like to avoid a long drive if possible -- we usually get take-out so want it to still be warm when I get home to the hungry family!
Fish Taco: needs a broader menu to do well at Artery. I agree: bring back Montgomery Grill.
Bethesda needs good barbecue, but Bethesda Barbecue wasn't it. Would love to see Black Hog (now in Frederick and environs) move in.
Well, I gotta be honest with you. I don't know of a place in this area that is of the caliber worth paying for. Smoke in Bethesda is terrible. Look at the place. Are there ever customers in there? No. Branded 72 used to be O'Brien's Pit BBQ and had a long following though I don't know if they were ever good enough to bring home a trophy. I think there's a BBQ food truck called Curley's BBQ. Another truck called Hardy's is terrible. DC may have some places. Hill Country from NYC is very good. I've been there many times here and in NYC. This area is weird. If someone opened up a place and had a cool vibe, they'd make a lot of money. People sadly are in the business cause it's cool or fun but ought not to be cause they don't know what they're doing and thus fail time and again. At least that's the case with BBQ. Real shame.
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