PassionFish closing in Bethesda

PassionFish will close its downtown Bethesda location at 7187 Woodmont Avenue, the restaurant announced yesterday. After five years in business, it will close following dinner service tomorrow evening, Sunday, November 15, 2020.

While a popular dining destination with good reviews, there had been rumors PassionFish would make an exit earlier this year. In August, real estate firm KLNB ran a "discrete listing" offering the space as potentially available for lease. The Reston PassionFish in more business-friendly Northern Virginia remains open for business, which says a lot about Montgomery County's business climate.

PassionFish reopening today in Bethesda

PassionFish will reopen today, June 4, 2020, at 7187 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. As now permitted by Montgomery County, the restaurant will be offering patio seating only. Seating is therefore much more limited than in their large indoor dining room. For that reason, and because social distancing is being observed, reservations are highly recommended. If you can't get a seat, you can also order curbside pickup for takeout meals.

Mermaid appears on Woodmont Avenue (Photos)

A mermaid appeared yesterday at the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues. If you dine out often in the District, she may look familiar. Now in front of PassionFish, her original home was a former restaurant from that same restaurant group, DC Coast.

That restaurant closed last year.

She may not be Daryl Hannah circa 1984, but given some of the public "art" around downtown Bethesda, this sculpture instantly becomes one of the better pieces in the business district. A non-abstract piece of art in downtown Bethesda. Imagine that.

Westfield Montgomery Mall, PassionFish to re-open today in Bethesda

You can expect many, if not most, businesses to try to reopen today. Add Westfield Montgomery Mall to the list. The mall will open at 10:00 AM and close at 9:00 PM.

A mall spokesperson says individual retailers and restaurants may limit their hours to allow employees more time to travel to and from home. Therefore, if you are planning to visit a particular store, you might want to give them a call and ask what their hours will be today.

Another business closed all weekend, and planning to reopen today, is PassionFish at 7187 Woodmont Avenue. They will be participating in the Restaurant Week that got a rough start when Winter Storm Jonas hit. They'll open at noon, and serve lunch and dinner today.

PassionFish Grand Opening Party in Bethesda (Photos)

A VIP crowd got a sneak preview of PassionFish last night in Bethesda, ahead of this coming weekend's Grand Opening at 7187 Woodmont Avenue. The main dining area is dominated by the open display kitchen, where you can watch a sushi chef preparing rolls, and a large square-shaped bar. Aquatic-themed artwork lines the walls, and there are a few flatscreen TVs for sports fans at the bar.

In the rear, private party room, a photo booth was set up for guests, and props also reflected the sea theme of the restaurant. Partygoers could don pirate hats or yacht caps to pose with friends, when not sampling the menu items circulating through the restaurant. Those included the expected sushi and seafood, but also sliders - not surprising when you consider the Passion Food Restaurant Group also owns the renowned Burger Tap & Shake locations in the District.

Abita Purple Haze

From what was on tap, I ordered a glass of Abita Purple Haze, which I rate 5 stars. Purple Haze is a wheat beer with raspberry puree added following the filtration process. It's somewhat similar to Flying Dog's Supertramp in that respect, but slightly better in my opinion.

The restaurant exterior can
open onto the Bethesda Avenue
patio dining area

Looking down Bethesda Avenue
from outside PassionFish toward
neighbor The Flats at Bethesda Avenue

Later in the evening, the exterior doors along Bethesda Avenue were opened onto the patio, which attracted a lot of attention from people walking past on the sidewalk.

If you are planning to go by car, park on level G3 in the Capital Crescent Garage underneath The Darcy condos, where PassionFish is on the ground floor. Use the Woodmont Avenue North elevators to exit the garage, and PassionFish will be only a few steps away to your right when you emerge from the elevator lobby onto Woodmont.

 

Signage installed at PassionFish in Bethesda (Photos)

The signs are up at PassionFish, scheduled to open in September at 7187 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. PassionFish is located in the ground floor of the Darcy luxury condos.

Bethesda construction update: PassionFish restaurant (Photos)

Here's another sneak peek inside PassionFish, the seafood and sushi restaurant opening in September at 7187 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. There's a school of fish added to the artwork along the wall.

Don't expect fancy tablecloths at this modern yet unpretentious seafood restaurant. In a newsletter yesterday, the restaurant's parent company said tables will be bare wood and the decor will reflect the sea-centric theme of the establishment. You can already see natural grain wood along the walls, as well as some of that sea theme in play in the artwork so far.

PassionFish is still hiring this week, so stop by to apply.

The home of the future PassionFish:
The Darcy luxury condos

Bethesda construction update: PassionFish (Photos)

Work continues inside the future PassionFish restaurant in the ground floor of the Darcy luxury condos in downtown Bethesda. The interior design is pretty far along at this point, including artwork, lighting fixtures and rich wood paneling. As I reported on Sunday, the restaurant is now hiring ahead of its September opening.

PassionFish hiring in Bethesda

Is summer ending without the plum job you were expecting to land after graduating college? Not surprising, considering Montgomery County hasn't lured a single major corporate headquarters here in over a decade. If it's time for Plan B, one of the most anticipated restaurants to open this year in Bethesda is hiring.

PassionFish, which will open in September in the ground floor of the Darcy luxury condos at 7171 Woodmont Avenue, is hiring for all positions. Like neighbor Silver, they have also set up a recruiting center for prospective employees.

The PassionFish employment office is at 7187 Woodmont Avenue, and will be open Monday-Friday from 10 AM - 6 PM, and on Saturdays 12-4 PM. You can also email resumes through their Craigslist ad.