CHIKO, Chef Tony's Promenade location open in Bethesda

There are two new restaurants to try this week in Bethesda. Chinese-Korean fusion CHIKO is now open at 7820 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. They are open daily from 5:00-9:00 PM for takeout and delivery orders.

Over at the Promenade at Pooks Hill, Chef Tony Marciante's newest location of Chef Tony's is now open, as well.  The Promenade is located at 5225 Pooks Hill Road, north of downtown Bethesda off MD 355. Drive through the front gate, take a right, and then take the first left for parking. Of course, Promenade residents only have to go downstairs. Now, yet another reason to live at the Promenade, which is like a luxury cruise ship on land.

Downtown Bethesda Chef Tony's fans also have something new to try at the original 4926 St. Elmo Avenue location. Three new varieties of cheesecake are on the dessert menu at the St. Elmo location only.

Chef Tony's temporarily closes in Bethesda

Chef Tony's has temporarily closed at 4926 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Owners Tony and Sonia Marciante said they hope the closure will be brief, but decided it was the best way to protect their staff, their customers and themselves during the coronavirus pandemic. Chef Tony's had been offering take-out and curbside service since dining rooms were ordered closed statewide by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. "This was not an easy decision, but the best one," they said in a statement announcing the temporary closure.

BUSINESSES OPEN DESPITE SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT ON ST. ELMO AVENUE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The sometimes-controversial sidewalk replacement along St. Elmo Avenue has expanded down the street towards Old Georgetown Road. Several businesses, including Pizza Pass and Chef Tony's, were affected Monday. But all of the businesses remain open despite the work. There are temporary pathways bridging the street with the doors of the individual businesses.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE: SOME POWER RESTORED, WSSC LIFTS WATER RESTRICTIONS

Overnight, Pepco crews restored some power in downtown Bethesda, and in parts of the suburbs.

After one of my informants reported a Pepco convoy heading out River Road after 5 PM Sunday, residents of Wood Haven near Wilson Lane had power back around an hour later.  By mid-evening, power was restored to some businesses on St. Elmo Avenue, including Chef Tony's and Jiffy Shoppes.  Jiffy Shoppes will reopen today, and Chef Tony's plans to open at 5:00 PM for dinner until 10:00 PM, if all goes well.

Other neighborhoods remained dark, however.

Finally, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Public Information Officer Scott Graham announced that the WSSC water restrictions have been cancelled overnight.

Stay tuned to @BethesdaRow on Twitter for more storm-related news.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK

PREVIEW:

BETHESDA'S NEWEST

PARKING LOT

St. Elmo Avenue Public Parking Lot 8

Aims to Ease Bethesda's Parking Nightmare

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

You can't park there.

But you can take in the majesty of downtown Bethesda's newest parking lot in these super-exclusive photos.

Montgomery County's St. Elmo Avenue Public Parking Lot 8 is nearly ready to receive its first (paying) customers. The last step is to add the lighting (Capital Properties could learn a thing or two from the county in that regard!).

Lot 8 is small and tucked away off St. Elmo Avenue behind The Corner Slice. It's just past the intersection at Norfolk Avenue on your left. While most attention is on the April 1 closing of two public lots on Bethesda Avenue, Lot 8 is more directly a replacement for a just-closed surface lot in the Del Ray/Auburn Avenue area of "Old Town" Bethesda.

Lot 8 offers traditional parking spaces on the left side, and parallel spaces on the right. Meters max out at 2 hours, and, of course, disabled parkers will find a space here, too.

This is a good lot to use to visit Rock Bottom, Union Jack's, Hanaro or BlackFinn - but please limit yourself alcohol-wise if you're getting back behind the wheel!

Speaking of alcohol, Lot 8 is also perfect for a quick stop at Capital Beer and Wine, or to pick up a hot pizza pie at the aforementioned Corner Slice.

Dining-in at Annie's Bistro Francais, Chef Tony's or the Red Tomato Cafe is made easier by Lot 8, too. A 2-hour time limit is more reasonable than those 1-hour jokers you often find among Bethesda parking meters.

Lot 8 is the Revenge of Surface Parking Lots. And that's great news for Bethesda drivers. If you can snag a space.

So check out that fresh asphalt and paint! Will you be the first to park in Lot 8?