Bethesda construction update: Luke's Lobster at Bethesda Row (Photos)

You can now see into the expanded portion of the Luke's Lobster space on Bethesda Lane. Glass was installed in the window punch outs yesterday. A new awning was installed on Elm Street, as well. This used to be an M&T Bank ATM machine, if you recall.

Expansion begins at Luke's Lobster at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Luke's Lobster, as I reported in late May, is expanding its Bethesda Lane restaurant space to add more customer seating indoors. The expansion, which will bring the space out to Elm Street, where an M&T Bank ATM used to be, will also increase the popular lobster roll eatery's visibility to pedestrian and automobile traffic along that busy road.

That construction project is now underway, but they are still open during the expansion.

TOUT DE SWEET EXPANDING IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

EXCLUSIVE!

French pastry shop Tout de Sweet is getting bigger in Bethesda. The macaron hotspot is busting out a wall, and expanding into part of the former Gaylord's Lamps and Shades space next door, on the street level at the Fairmont Plaza condominiums.

The construction work has begun, and will conclude in July, if all goes as planned. However, Fairmont Plaza residents have been advised that there could be some noticeable noise and vibration this upcoming Monday morning, May 19, between 8:00-11:00 AM. Probably a good time to head down to the new Peet's Coffee & Tea, which is expected to open that day.

Tout de Sweet

7831 Woodmont Avenue

JOSÉ ANDRÉS PEPE FOOD TRUCK ADDS BETHESDA ROW AS A STOP!!

INCREDIBLE!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

World-famous chef - and owner of Bethesda Row's Jaleo - Jose Andres has announced what downtown Bethesda has been waiting 6 months to hear:

His Pepe food truck will be adding Bethesda Row as a stop from now on!  Pepe will also stop at the NIH campus.

Pepe's menu will include:

Butifarra Burger
Pollo Frito
Escalivada
Pepito de Iberico
Spanish Grilled Cheese
Futbol Club Barcelona
Jamon Serrano y queso Manchego
Pepito de ternera

Andres is perhaps the highest-profile restauranteur to "turn the tables" on the popular food truck phenomenon, by launching his own truck.

In terms of downtown Bethesda restaurants, Bold Bite recently launched a rolling hot dog cart out of its Fairmont Avenue location.

The competition for lunch dollars is just getting started.  Andres' expansion into Montgomery County (Friendship Heights and Rockville Town Center are also on the list of stops) could lure more big names and DC food trucks to downtown Bethesda.