Pines of Rome is preparing its new home on Cordell Avenue, after decades at its venerable location on Hampden Lane. Work is underway at 4918 Cordell Avenue, including new paint and the removal of former tenant Matuba's external sign.
A Bethesda institution since 1972, Pines of Rome last week sought a transfer of its liquor license to the new location from Montgomery County. As of last night, the current Pines of Rome location at 4709 Hampden Lane was still fully open and serving white pizza, fresh seafood and other favorites. I will of course let you know when the actual move happens.
18 comments:
By next chapter, you mean closure.
They will not survive. Why? Because when Sir Walter Raleigh was the best restaurant in town, Pines was the shit. People's tastes have evolved over these many years and they haven't. Tired and boring food with clueless waiters in polyester uniforms won't cut it on Cordell. In a retirement community maybe but not heart of Bethesda.
Of course, Robert! Eagerly awaiting!
Their white pizza tastes like it came out of a toaster and the Parmesan cheese and tomato sauce taste like it came from the store shelf at Giant. I guess Bethesda really doesn't have a clue about what decent quality Italian food is about??
Didn't realize Pines of Rome was even open
The most interesting thing about this story is the fact that the former Matuba location, where Pines is moving, is one of the very few single family homes left in downtown Bethesda. You can't tell from the front facade and obviously it has been altered over many years for commercial use. But that was one big house there behind that ugly front.
I carried out from Pines of Rome Saturday. It was nice to see it packed. Glad it's sticking around. I hope they don't change a thing. The white pizza is actually terrific.
@8:05 - four letters.
@7:36 - Was it really? Do you know if any pictures exist of the building while it was still a house?
8:07 - I am sure there are some photos around. Check Facebook Chevy Chase Back in the Day group.
Bethesda Surfshop was a huge house with big front porch across the street. Those were the days when Bethesda was cool and slightly edgy.
@10:51 - I didn't even know about that FB group, thank you!
Yes, in fact, if you join the group on Facebook, the moderator has just posted a historical photo of the Matuba building.
Robert,
Where? I'm a member of that FB group and don't see any photo of the house that became Matuba.
Still delicious! Eat there and carry out all of the time. Love it!
Pines is a tradition!
Awful food. Their menu actually advertises they proudly use boxed Dececco pasta. Yes, the same stuff you can buy in Giant. They've also never heard of using salt.
The reason they stay in business is their clientele who went in their hey-day in the 70's and 80's is still alive, but barely. That's why the place is fairly busy at 5pm, but empty by 8pm.
Now let's see if their typical clientele can handle the change of a different location, assuming they even figure out the place has moved.
To the person(s) complaining
a) De Cecco is sold at Giant. So is 80% of the food you eat at every Bethesda restaurant. In fact much of your fancy meals come from Food Service distributors of lesser quality but you're not 'woke' enough to know it.
b) No restaurant anywhere in Bethesda survives based on reviews from the 70's. They stay in business because they serve fresh, authentic cuisine at non-inflated prices.
c) They will likely cut it on Cordell which is whole 0.6 miles away from their current location and home to such venerable competition as Caddies
d) if you are old enough to remember Sir Walter Raleigh, perhaps you should be visiting Pines of Rome more often.
e) Their wait staff, 2nd to none, is no a BS, hard working crew that delivers food faster than any faux-hipster restaurant in Bethesda. If you don't like this service, you're an idiot.
great answer to the complainer lol ! love their veal parm with linguinni & their white pizza rock too !
Eggplant parm and white pizza for me as well.
Remember walking out of Sir Walter Raleigh after a 2 martini lunch right into the blinding sunlight?
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