▼

Saturday, December 23, 2017

TapaBar to close as owners experiment with new concepts

Despite positive reviews, TapaBar owners Alonso and Alvaro Roche have concluded "it is not quite the right fit for the neighborhood." With customer traffic declining, the brothers will close the restaurant at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue after its last night on New Year's Eve. On January 2, 2018, they will open a Pop Up Lab in the space, alternating concepts and cuisines in a search for the ideal replacement.

Whatever final concept is chosen, the Roches expect the resulting restaurant will be more family-friendly. With temperatures low, they feel the time is right for a pho pop-up in downtown Bethesda, so that will be the first experiment starting January 2. “Alvaro and I are Pho fanatics, and we figured there was no better way to utilize this great space during the cold winter months than by sharing one of our favorite comfort foods with our neighborhood,“ Chef Alonso Roche said.

The brothers expect to be busier than ever this year, with the planned opening of TacoArepa and its accompanying Sirena Beer Garden a few doors down on Fairmont Avenue.
at

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:21 AM

    Was there a press release or email to customers?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1:27 PM

    Any relation, Robert? If so, my condolences.

    http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2017/Police-Family-Dispute-Preceded-Apparent-Murder-Suicide-in-Silver-Spring/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cav_Grad2:47 PM

    The "Anonymous" troll is certainly celebrating Festivus to the fullest. I don't think he is done airing all of his grievances against Robert Dyer today. I'm sure he'll be back through the evening.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous4:12 PM

    4:04 PM It's the same dude...thirsty for attention from Robert.

    And that long list of grievances...oh my.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous4:15 PM

    1:27 PM - I note that one of the decedents lived at "4700 block of Bethesda Avenue in downtown Bethesda". If they were related, that would explain Robert Dyer's fixation on the uncleared sidewalks very close by, during the last winter storm right at that corner. Also I wonder if he used that as his base for his wee-hour wanderings in Bethesda Row, as he uses the Fairmont Plaza as his base for his wee-hour wanderings in the Woodmont Triangle.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Robert Dyer10:53 PM

    5:21: Yes, there was a press release. Not a scoop. We all got the press release.

    1:27/4:15: You and Bethesda Magazine were both very disappointed to find out there was no relation.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous3:18 PM

    Whenever I tried to eat there they always insisted you sit at the bar, despite empty tables. You were usually greeted by an unfriendly host. I stopped going because of the attitude.

    ReplyDelete