Signs of new Roche Bros. dining ventures in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Signs of the next culinary ventures of Alvaro and Alonso Roche have been popping up on Fairmont Avenue in the last few days. Their Pho pop-up in the former TapaBar space at 4901-A Fairmont now has new signs and menus announcing a fusion/hybrid concept called R Family Kitchen & Bar. The menu keeps the Pho, but also adds American, Venezuelan, Argentinian, European and Mediterranean dishes and influences.

This means you can start with a piquillo pepper and chickpea hummus, have a bowl of pho, and then one of their western main courses - chicken, steak, or Norwegian salmon. Sides skew Euro-American, but sometimes with a Spanish twist of serrano ham or pimenton butter added. Interestingly, R Family's steak is of the coulotte variety, the cut that across-the-street rival Medium Rare has made its trademark in the D.C. area.

Menu for R Family

The difference? For $20.45, Medium Rare gives you steak with Secret Sauce, fries, bread and a salad; R Family's includes chimichurri, mojo picon and your choice of one side for $19.75. R Family also promises your main course will be served on a sizzling plate. In terms of flavor and portion size, that debate can only be settled with a taste test at both restaurants. R Family will be serving lunch and dinner.

Two doors down Fairmont, in the revamped space that once belonged to local favorite Fresh Grill, workers were applying the sign for the Roches' TacoArepa. That fast casual spot will draw on Venezuela, Cuba and the Caribbean for culinary inspiration. In the alley alongside the building, construction for the associated beer garden is also underway now.

Beer garden under construction
in back of the future TacoArepa
on Fairmont Avenue

Artist using stencil to create
logo for TacoArepa at
4905 Fairmont Avenue

Stencil removed, et voila!