Tabriz Cafe & More to open in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Tabriz Cafe & More is a late addition to the former Positano Ristorante Italiano building at 4948 Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. It will open alongside the main future attraction, Ala Bethesda, a new outpost of the Dupont Circle restaurant that has served the cuisines of the Levant since 2021. While not previously announced, the development is not a total surprise, as the Dupont Circle Ala also added a cafe six months after it opened. What is a slight curveball about Tabriz Cafe & More is that Tabriz is an Iranian city, whereas both Dupont Circle operations are centered around cuisine from the Levantine countries, of which Iran is not one.

Construction, including some demolition of parts of the Positano building, began in late September. AAG Interiors is the contractor. The alterations to the original building have taken some Positano fans by surprise, as the owners had previously told Washingtonian magazine that "the distinctive, rambling building, reminiscent of a rustic Italian villa, would be well-suited to the spinoff’s vibe: 'It’s like you’re walking in a Mediterranean country street,' Celal Gulluoglu says." But the building certainly has the square footage to fit two eateries, as its size made Positano a popular choice for events and large groups over the last several decades. Tabriz Cafe & More will also likely provide sales and revenue throughout all dayparts, as the Dupont cafe does.