South Street Steaks returns as food truck in Bethesda

There's some good news for long-patient fans of South Street Steaks in Bethesda. Although their bricks-and-mortar location on Cordell Avenue fell victim to a car crashing into it, they have now launched a food truck. Their website and social media have not yet advertised their location(s) or hours, but the truck has been spotted by the Bethesda Community Store at 8804 Old Georgetown Road. That's just north of Suburban Hospital. Until they start advertising, that's just a tip I can pass along to cheesesteak aficionados.

The food truck would seem ideal to reach one of their largest fan bases, people who took advantage of their late hours, now a rarity among restaurants in downtown Bethesda since the Montgomery County Council tanked the nighttime economy with their disastrous "Nighttime Economy Task Force" initiative. If this were eight or nine years ago, South Street Steaks would have been able to park their truck near the few remaining bars in the Woodmont Triangle, and do some big business.

But Councilmember Hans Riemer also managed to destroy the food truck industry in Montgomery County, along with nightlife. No longer allowed to park on public roadways, 96% of trucks went out of business or fled back into the District. So unless a generous property owner will allow them to operate on private property (such as the Bethesda Community Store lot), they would not be allowed to operate in downtown Bethesda. What a County! No one knows how to stifle free enterprise, business, and entrepreneurs like the Montgomery County Council.

Heckuva job, Brownie!

CHARLEY'S PHILLY STEAKS OPENING AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL

Charley's Philly Steaks is the latest addition to the new Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Columbus, Ohio-based cheesesteak chain previously had a spin-off Charley's Grilled Subs restaurant at the mall.

Besides Philly cheesesteaks, Charley's will also offer "gourmet fries," which can be ordered with various combinations of cheddar cheese, bacon and ranch sauce. Chicken cheesesteaks, grilled chicken salads, and the chain's famous lemonades will round out the menu.

This will be the first Charley's Philly Steaks to open in Montgomery County; the chain has Charley's Grilled Subs locations at Westfield Wheaton Plaza and Lakeforest Mall.

In other Dining Terrace news, Cava Grill and Lobster ME have coming soon signage over their spaces.