Luke's Lobster closes at Bethesda Row

Luke's Lobster has permanently closed at 7129 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row. Signage has been stripped from the storefront, and the interior appears cleared out. It's the end of an era, as Luke's was one of the highest profile additions of the previous decade at the Federal Realty development. Luke's was also one of the biggest names in the lobster roll fad, which never actually ended, but became such a popular item that it wound up on many restaurant menus beyond the trucks and eateries that only sold those mayonnaise and butter drenched sandwiches. Perhaps the ubiquity of the lobster roll cut into demand for the OG specialty shops.

Kusshi Sushi to replace Passion Fin at Sumner Place in Bethesda

Kusshi Sushi is continuing its successful growth in the region with a second Bethesda location. It will be at 4611-H Sangamore Road in the Shops at Sumner Place (a.k.a. Little Falls Mall). There it will take over the Passion Fin space next to ATI Physical Therapy. Passion Fin had a successful run by any measure, surviving fourteen years, but was dark during normal business hours last night. The venerable shopping center has been upping its dining game recently, and Kusshi can be seen as another example of that.

Always Ice Cream "coming soon" to Pike & Rose

Always Ice Cream is coming soon to Rockville Pike, according to signage posted in its future storefront. It will be located at 11802 Rockville Pike at Pike & Rose. The Maryland-based chain manufactures over 250 handcrafted flavors in the state, but has attracted the attention of national media. Always Ice Cream is expected to open this fall. Most of its scoop shops are located in the Annapolis area, but the brand is now expanding into Montgomery and Charles counties.

Prato Italian restaurant construction update at Bethesda Row

Prato is currently under construction at 7278 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. The Italian restaurant is replacing Matchbox on that prominent corner at the Federal Realty development. First, they've had to gut the interior of the previous establishment. The expected opening timetable has been revised from fall to "late fall." That gives them through December 20, so it's theoretically still doable.

Pollo Campero closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Pollo Campero has permanently closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, according to a sign posted at their stall in the Dining Terrace food court. The Guatemalan chicken chain opened this location in July 2024. From what I can tell, this is one of the rare closures we can't necessarily blame the Montgomery County Council for. I see that quite a few Pollo Campero restaurants have closed elsewhere across the country this year.

I recall that the chain went through a major expansion push in 2024, after celebrating record sales growth the previous year. Several of the planned 45 new locations were here in Montgomery County. I notice that a recurring theme in news articles about the other closures is that they all opened during that heady expansion year of 2024. 

Colony Grill closes in Potomac

Colony Grill has closed at 11325 Seven Locks Road at Cabin John Village in Potomac. Signage for the restaurant has been stripped from the building. Colony Grill opened this location in June 2023, but the chain says it has "decided not to continue our lease at this location." Apparently, a high score from Dave Portnoy wasn't enough to impress diners in Potomac. An 8.4! 

Woodmont Grill to become Ted's Bulletin in Bethesda

Restaurateur extraordinaire Steve Salis has purchased the former Woodmont Grill restaurant building at 7715 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. He plans to turn it into a Ted's Bulletin, one of several concepts within his hospitality portfolio. The location served Woodmont Grill - and Houston's before that - well, as it was widely considered to be the highest volume restaurant in downtown Bethesda prior to its abrupt closure last year.

Salis has experience in the downtown Bethesda market, ranging from the very successful &Pizza to the innovative but short-lived Ensemble. But the question of placing a modern homage to diners next door to the real-deal Tastee Diner could be his boldest challenge yet. News of the real estate transaction and Salis' plans were broken by UrbanTurf.

Fialova holding early happy hour in Bethesda today for Freedom 250 Grand Prix events

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix downtown in Washington D.C. will be run tomorrow, but Fialova in The Bethesdan hotel at 8120 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda will be hosting an early happy hour this afternoon, Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. What's happening today on this Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend? Drivers will be taking practice runs on the course in the late morning and early afternoon. Two IROC Series races will be held at 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM, featuring greats like Jeff Gordon and Bill Elliott driving vintage Pontiac Firebird IROC racecars. Qualifying for Sunday's INDYCAR race - the big one - will follow at 5:00 PM.

Chef Chris Jara serves a signature lunch menu at MI Cafe in Bethesda (Photos)

Chef Chris Jara, as seen on Food Network and Netflix cooking shows, served as guest chef in-residence today at MI Cafe, located at the Marriott International headquarters in downtown Bethesda. Four menu items devised by Jara could be purchased individually, or together as a complete lunch. The dishes served were Red Chili Pork and Hominy Tamales topped with cabbage and radish slaw, and served with a charred salsa; a Mexican Street Corn Salad with cotija cheese and lime; a Jamaica Hibiscus drink; and a Buñuelo Dessert Taco with a triple filling of coconut tres leches cake, cheesecake mousse, and pineapple caramel. 

Chris Jara guest chef at MI Cafe in Bethesda for lunch Thursday

MI Cafe, the Marriott International headquarters coffee shop that is open to the public at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, is continuing its sporadic guest chef series. Chris Jara is the latest celebrity chef from television to participate, and he will be presenting a special lunch menu at the cafe from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM tomorrow, Thursday, August 20, 2026. A San Antonio native, Jara is no stranger to upscale hotel properties, having worked as head pastry chef at several luxury hotels in that city. He's no stranger to TV audiences, either, appearing on Holiday Wars and Summer Baking Championship on the Food Network, and on Sugar Rush Christmas on Netflix.

Bethesda Shake Shack opening pushed back again

It's been a frustrating summer for Shake Shack fans in downtown Bethesda. The opening of the first downtown Shake Shack location at 7535 Old Georgetown Road had been set for June 24, then August, and most recently - according to Google - early September. But the most credible source, the restaurant itself, is now saying the "projected opening" is expected to be September 17. The interior fit-out is complete enough that they've had to put a sign in the window to inform prospective diners that the burger joint is not open for business yet. Here's another sneak peek inside:

Bethesda Curry Kitchen takes summer break until Friday

Bethesda Curry Kitchen at 4860 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda is temporarily closed. The restaurant is taking a short summer break, and will reopen with regular business hours this Friday, August 21, 2026. As longtime readers know, a number of small businesses take a short break for vacations or business travel each summer. Many are family owned and staffed, and there are no "extra" employees to operate the business while they take time off. By the way, here's a chance to recognize a Bethesda business success: Bethesda Curry Kitchen has been going strong more than twelve years since it opened in February of 2014.

Sushi Masato opens in Bethesda

Sushi Masato has opened at 4914 Hampden Lane in downtown Bethesda at the Shoppes of Bethesda. The Japanese restaurant has taken over the former Tako Grill space. That storefront has been divided into two, with the other part soon to open as The One Cake bakery. But you can get a preview of it from the dessert menu at Sushi Masato.

Cafe X-press closing in Bethesda

Cafe X-press will close by the end of the month at 8000 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The coffee shop and deli's lease has run out, and the owners say they've made the difficult decision to close the business, rather than seek a new location. The restaurant will permanently close on August 29, 2026. Cafe X-press has enjoyed one of the longest runs of success in downtown Bethesda, having originally opened way back in 1994, a heady time when Bethesda was growing on the right track for success instead of turning into Ballston like today. It's a shame that we are seeing more and more of the oldest establishments in Montgomery County closing due to the anti-business policies of the County Council, which combine with the already-slim hospitality industry profit margins to destroy businesses that have survived so many other challenges over the decades.

Bethesda lines up for PopUp Bagels opening

Bagel lovers and the merely curious alike turned out in force for today's grand opening of PopUp Bagels at 7607 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. The line to get in still stretched out the door and around the block over four hours after it opened this morning. Among the draws was the chance to taste the Bethesda-exclusive Chesapeake Spice Cream Cheese schmear, which might have been worth taking the Acela south for the PopUp completist. PopUp Bagels arrived from the bagel capital of the world, New York City, with tremendous hype. Now we'll see if that hype can be sustained as the out-of-town chain confronts the local competition of Bethesda Bagels, Call Your Mother, and Georgetown Bagelry.

Bethesda PopUp Bagels to feature exclusive Maryland flavor at Grand Opening

PopUp Bagels will celebrate its grand opening at 7607 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda this Friday, August 14, 2026, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Part of the celebration will be a Bethesda-exclusive schmear inspired by Maryland: Chesapeake Spiced Cream Cheese. Presumably a twist on Old Bay seasoning, the spread will have no shellfish ingredients, for those with food allergy concerns. Lacking the Old Bay imprimatur won't hurt the flavor's chances, as - in my opinion - the seasoning on Utz Crab Chips is even better than Old Bay, so you never know.

Also available Friday will be sweet treats from Cookies by Drew and refreshing beverages from Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Co. and La Colombe Coffee. PopUp Bagels did not mention if their product collaboration with Natalie's, Tangerine Dream Butter, will also be available this Friday. 

Ay! Mama Taqueria opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Ay! Mama Taqueria has officially opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. You can check out the menu in the photos below. If you are shaken up by $20 burritos, you'll be relieved that Ay! Mama's burritos are $13-14. Look for Ay! Mama in the Dining Terrace food court, next to Chick-Fil-A.

Bartaco adding mural to exterior at Pike & Rose

Bartaco is adding a mural to the exterior of its restaurant at 950 Rose Avenue at Pike & Rose on Rockville Pike. Artists have been out working on the addition over the weekend. The new public art piece prominently features the chain's dragonfly logo. Overall, the imagery and colors reflect the brand's "coastal vibe" aesthetic, inspired by Brazil, Uruguay, and Southern California. The mural stands out on a block that has very nice looking storefront designs, but not much in the way of public art.

Ay! Mama Taqueria opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Ay! Mama Taqueria is heading to Bethesda. It will be located inside Westfield Montgomery Mall. The taqueria has leased a space in the Dining Terrace food court, right by Chick-fil-A. Ay! Mama started as a tenant inside the ill-fated Solaire Social food hall, which abruptly closed last fall, evicting all tenants. A true family business, Ay! Mama is best known for their rich birria recipe, as well as their fresh corn chips and breakfast menu.

Celebrity wall inside PopUp Bagels in Bethesda

PopUp Bagels has postponed its opening at 7607 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda once again, this time to August 14, 2026. But I have a sneak peek for you right now, of the celebrity photo wall inside. How many famous faces can you recognize? And which local celebrities might be added once it opens?