BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: NAPLES RISTORANTE E PIZZERIA OPENING IN APRIL (PHOTOS)

Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria e Bar, a New York City import coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall, is getting closer to firming up its opening date. April is now the target, according to the company, which is currently seeking its head chef. Meanwhile on site, construction of their space continues, one of the most prominent in the mall's new dining terrace addition. Here's a sneak peek inside:

CHLOE'S NY STYLE DELI COMING TO BETHESDA, CAVA GRILL OPENS TODAY AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL

Chloe's NY Style Deli is the latest dining attraction coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It answers the question of what will take over that space near Chick-Fil-A in the original food court area of the mall. But that's just the beginning of the restaurant news at the just-expanded retail center.

The other half of
the Chloe's sign

CAVA Grill opens today at the mall, and as is their custom on Day One (which they refer to as Community Day, not a grand opening), your food will be FREE today. In exchange, CAVA is asking you to consider making an optional donation to their non-profit local partners MicroGreens and City Blossoms. Here's a preview of the new restaurant:

Charley's Philly Steaks is now open in the Dining Terrace, as is MET Bethesda on the second level, just outside of the new ArcLight Cinemas.

For those craving the
famous sandwich from
Philadelphia

MET Bethesda overlooks the
new Dining Terrace

Lobster ME looks like it will be opening any day now. Here's a sneak peek at the space, and the Lobster ME menu:

And the Coming Soon signage is up at CRAVE (opening in early December) and Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria.

NAPLES 45 AND CAVA GRILL APPLY AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL APPLY FOR LIQUOR LICENSES (PHOTO)

Two future restaurant additions at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda are getting a head start towards opening day this year. Naples 45 ristorante e pizzeria and Cava Mezze Grill have both applied for their liquor licenses, as construction continues on the mall's new dining terrace.

Naples 45 has an extensive beer and wine list at its New York City flagship location.

PITZZE TABLE CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS TODAY IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Pitzze Table, a reinvention of the existing Haven Pizzeria in downtown Bethesda, will be closed today to facilitate that transformation. The return of Tiger Mullen to the helm of the pizzeria is bringing new recipes, new menus, new kitchen equipment - and even breakfast - to the restaurant.

If you remember my post about the future Naples 45 pizzeria coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall this year, you'll be glad to know that the new Pitzze Table will indeed be using real, imported San Marzano tomatoes on its pizza pies. And the clams on your pizza will be fresh from New England, not fresh from a can.

House-baked breads will be a prominent part of the breakfast menu, and you can also expect much-improved gelato for dessert.

Pitzze Table is located at 7137 Wisconsin Avenue, and will reopen Wednesday, July 2, for its inaugural breakfast menu at 7:00 AM.

ARCLIGHT CINEMAS/WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

The future ArcLight Cinemas and dining terrace are really starting to take shape at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. In my last update, you could start making out the basic design as seen in the early renderings. Now the overall design is beginning to match what we've only seen in computer simulations thus far. In particular, the glass panels in place now help project the modern feel the finished addition will have. The new wing will house the 16-screen ArcLight Cinemas multiplex, and several new restaurants, including MET Bethesda and Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria.

Indoors, work is starting on the existing food court area. What has been a barren floor for months now has a new surface, and work is also beginning to the previously-exposed ceiling and ductwork.

New food court floor

Ceiling, skylight and ductwork

Frame in place for new ceiling

NAPLES 45 RISTORANTE E PIZZERIA OPENING IN BETHESDA

People in DC are always talking about New York City pizza being the best. Well, they'll be delighted to know that we're getting an actual New York City pizzeria here in Bethesda: Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria will open later this year at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Naples 45 will be located by the future dining terrace and ArcLight Cinemas, currently under construction. The Bethesda location will be the only one outside of NYC, except for their Disneyland and Disney World restaurants.

The pizzeria specializes in Neapolitan pizza. That style relies on a lean, fine dough containing only flour, yeast, salt and water. The thin crust features a crispy, thin exterior, and a slightly-chewy, soft interior. Is it authentic? Naples 45 is one of only 3 NYC pizzerias to win the La Vera Pizza Napoletana certification, for authentic Neapolitan preparation, ingredients and cooking methods. They were similarly awarded the Ospitalità Italiana certification for those reasons.

Still not convinced? Tony Gemignani, World Champion Pizza Maker - and official U.S. Ambassador of Neapolitan Pizza (as bestowed by the city of Naples, Italy, no less) - says real Neapolitan pizza should use Caputo flour and San Marzano tomatoes. And, by golly, Naples 45 uses both.

Here's a great video showing the actual Naples 45 Disney World location, that will let you see the cooking process and restaurant firsthand. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a slice of this pizza.

If you're on a dinner-and-a-movie visit there after the ArcLight Cinemas open - and somebody in the group isn't a pizza person - there are also plenty of pasta, seafood, meat and salad dishes on the menu.

This is another strong statement by Westfield about boosting food offerings to the level expected at a top flight mall. Westfield Montgomery Senior Marketing Director Christa Allen says the mall is committed to "continuing to bring unique dining options to the table.” If they can add something special in the Legal Sea Foods space, like a Great American Restaurants Group restaurant (Coastal Flats, Jackson's Mighty Fine Food, etc.), that would arguably make Montgomery Mall an equal to Tysons Corner.