LOBSTER ME TO OPEN BETHESDA RESTAURANT

Las Vegas-based Lobster ME is expanding to Bethesda this fall. The purveyor of the "World's Best Lobster Rolls" will be the latest addition to the new dining choices at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Mark Setterington, VP of Operations at Lev Restaurant Group, confirms Lobster ME will be located at the mall's new dining terrace, which is currently under construction (above photo). Lobster ME is scheduled to open by November 1, he said.

Lobster ME offers the Maine and Connecticut-style lobster rolls familiar to residents who patronize Luke's Lobster, Freddy's or the Red Hook Lobster Truck, to name a few. They also offer a Cajun roll, which features chilled lobster meat in a spicy Cajun sauce. And the El Diablo roll, which has warm lobster in a spicy marinara-style sauce. Each roll is made-to-order, and features the meat of an entire lobster. But there is an XL size, if that's not enough.

The Lobsicle is a grilled or batter-fried lobster tail on a stick. Other lobster entrees include Lobster Mac and Cheese, Lobster and Chips, and Lobster Tacos. Landlubbers can enjoy a Hebrew National hot dog. Lobster ME's fries are beer battered, and seasoned with your choice of their custom spice blend, or Cajun spice. The Vegas locations have a nice list of cocktails, including Wicked Lemonade, a Lobster Mary, and a Blueberry Margarita. But you never know for sure what (if anything) will end up on the adult beverages list in Montgomery County, given the tight government control of alcohol here. In Vegas, they also have a breakfast menu, featuring Lobster and Waffles, and a Lobster ME English Muffin.

The menu sounds great, and I'm also waiting to try the Chowder Fries, which are sort of the New England equivalent of poutine, from the description. Sure, lobster rolls are plentiful in DC and downtown Bethesda. But this will provide a new lobster roll spot for mall patrons, and office workers in the nearby office parks at Rockledge (until the developers replace them all with luxury condos and townhouses - so much for "live where you work"). And some new, unique menu items not available elsewhere.

All-in-all, the new dilemma at the revamped Westfield Montgomery Mall is going to be where to dine before the movies at the ArcLight Cinemas, also opening this fall. It's a good problem to have.

LUKE'S LOBSTER OFFERING SPECIAL DRINKS FOR THE FRONT ROW AT BETHESDA ROW THIS WEEKEND (PHOTO)

Luke's Lobster on Bethesda Lane is offering 2 special beverages during The Front Row fashion event at Bethesda Row: The MEmosa (because it's all about you, isn't it?) and the Summer Shandy:

LUKE'S LOBSTER BETHESDA ROW GRAND OPENING JUNE 14

I just received exciting news:

The grand opening of Luke's Lobster at Bethesda Row will be June 14, at 11 AM.

Just in time for lunch!

Hopefully the weather will be good for dining on their Bethesda Lane patio that day.

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.

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