Photo courtesy Papadopoulos Properties
It's not that big in terms of news, but any activity at the future 100 Montaditos on Elm Street at Bethesda Row is of interest to those eagerly awaiting this opening.
A liquor license notice has been posted, as well as a large brochure detailing the different types of bread used in their Spanish-style sandwiches. And some of the bargain specials to be had certain days of the week.
Although a September opening has been announced, the September 19 liquor license hearing is a clue that the opening will probably be in the later part of the month.
Future Korean restaurant House of Milae installed its storefront signage yesterday. Bethesda has long been known for not having any Korean restaurants. House of Milae will be the only traditional Korean restaurant in town.
Kraze Burger at Bethesda Row is a Korean chain, and has served a few Korean-influenced burgers. But, perhaps the days of having to drive to Rockville or Annandale for real Korean food are finally over. Will soju be on the beverage list? Let's hope so.
House of Milae is taking over the former Plaza del Sol restaurant space on St. Elmo Avenue.
Construction has begun inside the future Panera Bread on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda.
Meanwhile, relics of former tenant bd's Mongolian Grill remain outside of the restaurant.
Another update already? Yes, that's how rapid the progress has been recently at Roof in Bethesda.
New doors and windows, as well as additional facade work, have been installed since my Thursday update.
The rooftop bar and restaurant at Cordell and Norfolk Avenues is scheduled to open this fall.
Kadhai, an Indian restaurant on Norfolk Avenue, has added outdoor seating. It's interesting to note that the table settings are equivalent to fine dining indoors.
Instead of the typical outdoor patio chairs and hard tables, Kadhai is offering plush chairs and white tablecloths.
Let's hope for good weather sometime this week so you can try out the fancy furnishings (and the food) on Bethesda's newest patio.
This Sunday, June 16, Rock Bottom in Bethesda has a hot Father's Day special: a Smokin' Jalapeño Sirloin and a beer for $20.
Rock Bottom is located at the corner of Norfolk and St. Elmo Avenues in downtown Bethesda.
Exclusive!
Bye-bye, City Lights of China.
Hello... Shophouse!
That's right, Dupont Circle's favorite Asian Chipotle spinoff, Shophouse, is coming to Bethesda Row. Shophouse will move into the City Lights of China space at 4820 Bethesda Avenue, which City Lights is vacating ...now.
As the auction announcement I found (below) shows, the contents of City Lights are being auctioned off today.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that Shophouse is taking its place. Have you heard before that a particular restaurant is the "[fill in type of ethnic food] Chipotle" before? Or "trying to be Chipotle?"
Well, Shophouse literally is Chipotle, an Asian spinoff from the same company. So prices and ordering procedures will be fairly familiar to regular patrons of Chipotle. I expect Shophouse will be hugely popular at lunch.
Of course, having a corporate chain take over a small Chinese restaurant will likely cause some minor grumbling in the community. As might the closure of a second independent Asian restaurant on Bethesda Avenue in a month (Taipei 101 being the first). It will be interesting to hear public reaction, given the popularity of Shophouse in DC.
Appropriately, the name Shophouse comes from Chinese buildings that had residences above commercial shops. What's old is new again, as Shophouse comes to Bethesda Row, which urban planning experts refer to often as the best example of a mixed-use development in America.
Luke's Lobster on Bethesda Lane is offering 2 special beverages during The Front Row fashion event at Bethesda Row: The MEmosa (because it's all about you, isn't it?) and the Summer Shandy:
Popular Bethesda Indian restaurant Haandi has changed its name to Kadhai. Menus now describe the kitchen's offerings as "Boutique Indian Cuisine." Now, before you panic, don't worry: all of your favorite dishes are still on the menu. But many new ones have also been added.
What does Kadhai mean?
It refers to an Indian and Pakistani wok. A kadhai is an iron or steel wok that is deeper, thicker and more bowl-like than a Chinese wok. If I recall correctly, Haandi actually had a Chicken Kadhai dish already on the menu.
But many new items have been added, and I thank a very helpful reader for compiling a complete list of the new dishes (and for sending a great side-by-side photo of the Haandi/Kadhai menu covers) that I would not have been able to myself!
So, here is the list:
Palak Chaat -appetizer with baby spinach, tomato, onion in yogurt & tamarind sauce
Goat Biryani -bone-in goat meat in spices, then layered with rice flavored with saffron and nuts
Daal Tadka -Yellow lentils in mild spices
Channa Masala -Chickpeas in north Indian spices
Bhindi Masala -Okra, onion, tomatoes, spices
Goat Kadhai -bone-in goat with tomatoes, green peppers, onions
Hariyali Tikka Tandoori -Chicken marinated in cilantro, and baby spinach sauce
Lasooni Kabab -Chicken marinated in garlic & onion sauce
Goan Shrimp Curry -Jumbo shrimp in chef's medium coconut -milk-based sauce
Goan Fish Curry -Salmon fillet in coconut-milk-based sauce
Goat Curry -Bone-in goat meat with ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, green chilies, Indian spices
As you can tell, it will take many visits to try them all. So begin new dining adventures at Kadhai, 7905 Norfolk Avenue, in downtown Bethesda. Reservations: 301-718-0121.
Bethesda's newest restaurant, Brickside Food & Drink, has been open for a week or so.
But next Friday, the owners are making it official.
Join them at Brickside Friday, February 15, for a grand opening party. There will be music, specials, a few surprises when you step up to the bar, and even some door prizes to win.
After nearly 4 years of waiting, Bethesda bacon lovers can once again find the Bacon Chicken Club burrito at California Tortilla.
But for a limited time only!
For the uninitiated, the Bacon Chicken Club contains the following: grilled chicken breast, Monterey Jack cheese, and smoky hardwood bacon, topped with Jalapeno Ranch and Roma tomatoes, on a bed of romaine lettuce and Mexican rice, wrapped in a soft corn tortilla.
Small size is $6.19. Bigger bacon appetites demand the $6.99 regular size.
Smoke BBQ opened yesterday on Cordell Avenue, and I have some photos for you, including the full Smoke BBQ menu (click the menu photo to enlarge).
There were quite a few families with kids dining there, probably because Smoke BBQ offers $5 kids meals.
Nothing on the menu will change the world, but it's something different for downtown Bethesda. The overall shortage of great barbeque in Montgomery County has led to a rise in BBQ trucks, carts and stands that are filling the vacuum. It will be interesting to hear the early opinions on how this bricks-and-mortar BBQ spot stacks up to the ones on wheels.
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| The elevated porch dining area is coming along nicely above the street |
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| This is a new window in the front of the restaurant |
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| This sun suspended from the ceiling is the centerpiece of the room; check out those high-quality chairs - with cushions! |
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| An appropriately avocado green wall color |
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| George Kovacs light fixtures - swanky! |
