BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: BARREL & CROW RESTAURANT (PHOTOS)

No, it wasn't the ghost of Superstorm Sandy. A man-made dismantling of the New England dock-themed patio began last evening at the former home of Freddy's Lobster + Clams, at 4867 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. The rugged ropes are gone, and the process of rebuilding the space for its new tenant is now underway.

Barrel & Crow is expected to open there in March. But yesterday, a small blast of winter precipitation left the patio looking more like the victim of Bob Ryan's famous Thundersnow than a hurricane.

FREDDY'S LOBSTER CLOSES IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Freddy's Lobster has closed on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. Open since May 2011, the restaurant appeared just as the lobster roll fad was taking off in the DC area. Since then, Luke's Lobster has opened at Bethesda Row, food trucks have muscled into the category, area restaurants have added lobster rolls to their menus, and a Las Vegas-based lobster roll chain will soon open at the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Freddy's was a side venture by next door neighbor Grapeseed's chef, Jeff Heineman. Known for its beer list and themed front patio, Freddy's will be missed even if lobster rolls aren't as exotic in Bethesda as they were in 2011.

FREDDY'S LOBSTER CELEBRATES ONE YEAR IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA!

This Saturday, May 19, Freddy's Lobster + Clams will be celebrating one year in downtown Bethesda.  Has it really been a year since Bethesda's first lobster roll restaurant opened its doors?

Just in time for the occasion, Freddy's completed a renovation of the front of its building and patio, bringing beachside atmosphere to Cordell Avenue.

Starting at noon Saturday, Freddy's will host a BBQ on the deck, a DJ and a live band, facepainting and balloons for kids, and - not surprisingly for one of the top beer lists in town - beer specials.

So stop by Freddy's.  If you can't afford to travel to the ocean and take advantage of the perfect weather this weekend, Freddy's will bring the ocean to you!

Freddy's Lobster + Clams, 4867 Cordell Avenue.  240-743-4257.

CINCO DE MAYO TEQUILA CLASS IN BETHESDA

The most interesting Cinco de Mayo event in the DC area I've heard of so far, is right here in downtown Bethesda, at Freddy's Lobster.

Freddy's is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Tequila Class Saturday, May 5, from 1-3 PM.

Bartender Chris Cunningham will teach you about the wide variety of tequilas in the world.  And, most importantly, how to use them to make cocktails yourself.

Chef Jeff Heineman will serve up appetizers paired with each cocktail.

Your total cost will be $50.

Class size is limited, so hurry to snag your seat(s) before they're gone!

To reserve your spot, email lisa@freddyslobster.com ASAP.

Freddy's Lobster, 4867 Cordell Avenue.  240-743-4257.

LUKE'S LOBSTER

BETHESDA ROW

NAMES GM

Penn Quarter GM Crossing DC Line to

Take Helm at New Entry in

Bethesda Lobster Wars

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Is there any such thing as too many lobster rolls? No! At least in my opinion.

So the waiting game for legendary NYC and DC lobstermaster Luke's Lobster to open its doors onto the patio on Bethesda Lane, is officially underway.

It was just 2 years ago that "Where can I buy a lobster roll in Bethesda?" was an unanswerable query. Now there are many, most notably Freddy's Lobster and the Red Hook Lobster Truck on its occasional visit.

Enter Luke's Lobster with a prime spot at Bethesda Row. But a restaurant is only as good as its leader. Luke's Lobster yesterday revealed the selection of its Penn Quarter general manager to be the new GM here at Bethesda Row.

Garret Currier will take the helm for the expected summer opening. He is a Maine native like Luke's founder, Luke Holden. Currier also owns "quite possibly the world's largest collection of L.L. Bean short sleeve plaid shirts," according to the company.

This may be the biggest opening of the year in Bethesda.

You're going to get 5-6 lobster claws' worth of meat on your roll at Luke's Lobster, fresh from Maine, picked and packed by Holden's own family lobster business! Sustainable fishing, and complete quality control, means you and Luke's know where your lobster came from, and you're supporting ocean-friendly business practices.

I'm just hoping the food fads keep going my way (lobster rolls, hot dogs, burgers, cupcakes). Now how about catfish, fried chicken, beignets, pupusas, arepas, Great American Restaurant Group bread baskets, Southern-style biscuits... the list goes on and on, and there are vacancies at Bethesda Row to open more than one!

FREDDY'S LOBSTER'S

NEW

(OCEAN)FRONT DESIGN

New England-Style Seafood Restaurant

Gets Closer to the Beach in Bethesda

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Regular customers or passersby at Bethesda's Freddy's Lobster and Clams have likely noticed the work being done out in front of the Cordell Avenue restaurant.

Freddy's' "extreme makeover" appears to be just about finished, and here are photos of the result. In addition to being an upgrade of the original, the redesign would be at home on any famous Atlantic boardwalk. If you turned around 180 degrees, you would expect the beach and the ocean to be behind you. Who knows, maybe Freddy's will one day follow Mussel Bar to Atlantic City (or, preferably, Ocean City!).

But for now, the only place in the world to enjoy Freddy's lobster rolls, one-day-a-week fried chicken special, and stupendous beer list is right here in Bethesda! Now, if they can just replace the sidewalk with a boardwalk...

Freddy's Lobster and Clams, 4867 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

FREDDY'S LOBSTER

CELEBRATES

NATIONAL CABBAGE DAY

AND

NATIONAL INDIAN PUDDING DAY

In a time when every single food has a day - and in many cases, a month - leave it up to Freddy's Lobster to keep us informed of ones that might still surprise us.

Tonight they're celebrating National Cabbage Day, and National Indian Pudding Day.

Just mention National Cabbage Day, and they will Super Size your Coleslaw!

Mention National Indian Pudding Day, and they'll upgrade you from Whipped Cream to "ice cream on top." But on top of which dessert? They didn't say.

I suppose the answer to that question will complete a trifecta of surprises from Freddy's Lobster tonight.

To close this report on National Cabbage Day, I have to salute the greatest coleslaw of all time: the coleslaw served at the Bethesda Roy Rogers Restaurant.