The recent wave of closures of some of Bethesda's longest-operating businesses continues. Tia Queta at 4839 Del Ray Avenue announced on Facebook yesterday that it will permanently close on January 31, 2026. The family-owned Mexican restaurant has been in business for 45 years. As the family also owns the property the restaurant stands on, the small lot could be valuable if assembled with the planned - but ridiculously-long-delayed - redevelopment of the Steamers site next door. The Tia Queta property was advertised as being for sale in August of 2024.
Never had the courage to eat there after looking at the decrepit condition of the building, included that nasty looking rooftop equipment. No faith that the food service was safe.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it - but you made the right choice. Definitely not "up to code" back there.... That said, I have had a couple fun dinners in there.. mostly because the staff would just start bringing out free shots for everyone while they got hammered themselves. I'm actually shocked it held on as long as it did.
DeleteHonestly didn't even know they were even still open. I remember they were the first establishment of all the restaurants to start messing with the flow of the public sidewalks in downtown Brown. They put 6×6 beams to make their awning facade look more trendy and years later you can still see the wood remains stump sloppelly cut not so flush to the concrete sidewalk by a Sawzall©. Had their salsa once, nothing special, never went back & that was 30 years ago. No great loss.
ReplyDelete20 years ago, that little block was poppin with Steamers still bringing people in as a restaurant with a signature outdoor deck. And you had Buon Giorno or Satsuma still operating. I never went up there, but the bethesda street signs were charming at the Tia Queta rooftop.
ReplyDeleteAnother loss of a long time Bethesda name! Even Chef Andres has abandoned the Bethesda restaurant scene. At least we got Mussel Bar back.
Back in the day (1980’s or so) Tia’s was my favorite go-to for Mex. I always ordered the Carne Zapoteca. Padrone’s name is Roberto I think. Nice guy.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't seem to take much pride their restaurant because it looked like trash from the outside.
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, good news on the burger front. One brick and mortar and one ghost kitchen both in Rockville. Pines of Rome for sale as well. Most successful Italian with the worst food. Won't be missed.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to hate no frills local joints that are family favorites in this area. Strange for a guy who complains so much about the food scene. Not every establishment needs to be an "elevated dining experience". Places like Pines, Old Georgetown Grill, etc. serve a purpose and they have been beloved by families for decades. Going into a place where someone knows your name and knows your kids is important - and it's needed in Bethesda. Not everything needs to be an Aventino, Salt Line, Mon Ami Gabi, etc.
DeleteSo yes - IF pines goes (heard someone might buy it and keep running Pines) - then it will absolutely be missed by true locals.
@7:19 SPOT ON! Some folks are perpetual, wannabe, snobs
Delete7:35 - So, making a comment about certain places not being good enough equals snob? Huh? The number one rated Italian restaurant in the entire state, by a recent poll of diners, is in Rockville so you tell me Pines never was and never will be mentioned in the same conversation. Sorry.
DeleteMoCoShow reported this on Friday. They always credit you when you report a story first on your blog, so you should give them the same courtesy.
ReplyDelete8:57: I do give the same courtesy when another outlet has a scoop. In this case, the restaurant announced it on Facebook.
DeleteOn this I agree with Rob, he gives credit to MoCoShow often, that anonymous reporting makes you sound like a MoCoShow staffer... yes I'm anonymous, too. But simply stating the facts.
DeleteImagine if you told someone in 2019 that by 2026 Tia Queta, Harp & Fiddle, Pines of Rome, Rock Bottom, Jaleo/Spanish Diner would all be closed.
ReplyDeleteLots of empty spaces that could be great pop up spaces like the pinball place we had for a bit.
To be fair - places like Tia Queta and Rock Bottom did that to themselves. I went to Rock Bottom a couple times like 6 months before they closed and the staff was an absolute clown show - arguing with each other about who's table mine was and then blaming the other staff member when they screwed up the order and then it got to the point where they were in a stand off with each other and they wouldn't even come to my table so I had to go to the bar to order and leave my 2 kids in the booth for a few minutes. It was bizzare. Food was horrendous, place was dirty as crap. Tia Quetta was always a bit of a mess - no beef with them - but places like that only have so much of a shelf life. They had a solid run - was time to go.
Delete7:19 - I assume you're replying to my post. Allow me to respond to yours then. Firstly, that's just a silly and false notion that I (or anyone else for that matter) hates local establishments. That makes no sense. Complain about the food scene? Yes, when warranted but I've also posted here about new places coming and how good many of them are. Pines of Rome is local and beloved, true but has awful food as well as Old Georgetown Grill. We're lucky that both will be gone soon. You know what else is beloved but not that great, Tastee Diner. Their coffee is beyond horrific which is surprising seeing as how diners serve a whole heck of a lot of it. They used to be much better. Diners in PA and NJ famously make every item from scratch and it shows. Our local food scene needs to be leaps and bounds better than it is and should be given the money and the culture/travel of many citizens in the area. The issue now is that mainly only local or national chains can afford the rent which pushes out local joints. Disagree if you want but we don't have the high level of food, at all price points, that we want, needs and deserve and that's just a fact.
ReplyDeleteJust want to say we had a really nice dinner last night there. As we have over many years.
ReplyDeleteComments here remind me of trips overseas. Some people complain about hotels; others can find the the magic.
Same here. I’d have pushed the idea it’s an “authentic Mexican” restaurant, not rec-me. Or a chain. It’s been family run and survived for 45 years. We’ve almost always had very friendly service and good food.
Yeah, was there a couple boards that needs to be replaced upstairs in the deck for a bit? Yeah (they were fixed btw).
Bethesda will be worse without it. Some new place will take over that corner.