TYBER BIERHAUS AIMS FOR FEBRUARY OPENING IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

One of the more interesting restaurants coming to downtown Bethesda is Tyber Bierhaus, which will take over the former home of The Box Bar and Grill at 7525 Old Georgetown Road. Now I hear that, according to Tyber's general manager, they are hoping to open in mid-February. However, the specific day is not firm yet, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, here's a look at the ongoing makeover of the spot ahead of the opening:

PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY AT 100 MONTADITOS AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

Not much progress yet at the future 100 Montaditos on Elm Street. Will this restaurant make its scheduled August opening? It's theoretically possible, but if you consider the time it will take for inspections and permits at the end, I'm somewhat skeptical right now. But, let's see what they can do.

PALADAR LATIN KITCHEN & RUM BAR CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here are the latest photos of the future Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar, opening in mid-August at North Bethesda Market in White Flint:

WOODMONT VIEW CONDO PROJECT WANTS TO ELIMINATE RESTAURANT PARKING, POOL AND JACUZZI FROM BATTERY LANE SITE (PHOTOS)

Future Battery Lane luxury condo building Woodmont View will not provide parking for customers of its ground floor restaurant, nor the promised rooftop pool and Jacuzzi (for residents), if their waiver request is granted by the Montgomery County Planning Board.

The 9-story luxury project will house only 46 units, and - by my calculation - 8 MPDUs, at the northwest corner of Battery Lane and Woodmont Avenue. Currently, the site is home to a small structure that includes a dry cleaners. Past tenants included a tattoo parlor.

Developer Duball, LLC argues that there will be plenty of parking in Public Parking Garage 35 on Woodmont Avenue, less than a block away. Duball says the on-site restaurant parking would require a costly valet service, thereby raising condo fees.

It is unclear what the effect of this waiver would be on already-tight on-street parking on Battery Lane. Last year, a group of residents organized to fight a county plan to place parking meters on Battery Lane. With at least three new mixed-use projects on the books nearby, parking pressures should reach new heights in the coming years.

Duball further argues that moving the fitness center and community room closer to the ground floor will "activate" the street. I doubt that, given that such facilities rarely are full around the clock. You really need retail or restaurants to activate an urban sidewalk through the evening.

The request to delete the rooftop pool is interesting. That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery), a short distance away, will have a rooftop pool. Woodmont View will be at a disadvantage, then, with wealthy buyers seeking premium amenities.

Both buildings will allow an easy walk to work for employees of NIH and Walter Reed.

One intriguing note on Woodmont View: If I recall correctly, its original project approval hinged on the requirement that the building's eatery be a "quality restaurant."

We often hear that developers can't be required to include a particular commercial use, much less a class of that use.

But here we have an apparent legal precedent set in Montgomery County. It not only requires a restaurant, but a quality one. Should the Apex Building be torn down, the board could therefore require a "quality" movie theater be located within the new development.

Finally, the design of the building is not bad, in my opinion. It isn't exhilarating, but does have the distinctive roof accents you can see below. Certainly, it's far better than the hospitalesque design of the Trillium-replacement project across Woodmont.

MILITARY EAT FREE AT BOLOCO BETHESDA ROW TODAY

All US servicemembers eat FREE today, May 27, at Boloco on Elm Street in Bethesda.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Roof, the rooftop restaurant and bar opening late summer in Bethesda, is all lit up.

As the structure starts to resemble the renderings prepared by renowned architect Steven Karr, night lighting has been installed on the exterior and the interior.

While there's still a long way to go before you're drinking a cocktail in the breeze above Bethesda, this temporary lighting gives a sense of what it will be like when this corner lights up for real this summer.

NEW SPECIALS AT GRAPESEED THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, try one of these specials at Grapeseed, on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda:

*Lobster Salad with Ugli fruit and arugula

*Fresh crab cakes with coconut and ginger, served with a Lucky Lo Hei Salad and avocado

PLAZA DEL SOL CLOSED IN BETHESDA - FOR GOOD?

I noticed Plaza del Sol was closed this past weekend, and then again last night. The Mexican restaurant on St. Elmo Avenue opened to positive reviews last year, and there was no indication the business was in trouble.

But last night, I found the ominous note below attached to the front of the restaurant.

In essence, it says the restaurant is closed indefinitely, but that the owners would like to reopen "once we have resolved matters."

What those matters are, they have not shared. But the note says they cannot access the telephone or voicemail for the restaurant, which suggests they are locked out of the building.

Hopefully they can get whatever the issues are resolved. Plaza del Sol has perhaps become best-known for its weekly flamenco concerts, featuring guitarist Miguelito and a revolving cast of dancers, a rare find in downtown Bethesda.

MAJESTIC BAR AND GRILLE CLOSES IN BETHESDA

The Majestic Bar and Grille has closed in Bethesda as of today, according to Chef Damon Hersh.

Open for about a year, the sports pub with gastropub aspirations will be remembered for bringing unusual regional favorites like poutine to Bethesda diners.

Formerly Gaffney's, restaurants have found the Wisconsin Avenue space challenging to succeed in. Both restaurants tried something different, and you have to give them credit for that.

BOX OFFICE SIGN LIGHTS UP AFTER LONG DARKNESS AT BETHESDA BLUES & JAZZ SUPPER CLUB

The long-dark, neon "Box Office" sign of the historic Bethesda Theatre was aglow once again on Wisconsin Avenue last night.

Now the home of the Bethesda Blues & Jazz supper club, opening March 1, the building is retaining much of its vintage charm. The styles of automobiles have changed, the old Pizza Hut and other nearby structures have been demolished and replaced.  But facing the theater from across Wisconsin, the scene is not all that changed from the 1940s and 50s.  Well, okay, there is an apartment building now looming over it.

The historic theatre was built in 1938, and is an example of Streamline Moderne architecture.

BRICKSIDE MENU BETHESDA - BRICKSIDE FOOD & DRINK OPENS - FULL MENU (PHOTOS)

Brickside Food & Drink opened yesterday on Cordell Avenue.  If you are thinking about trying Bethesda's newest restaurant today or tonight, here is the full menu (click to enlarge):

Alas, Funnel Fries did not make it onto the final menu!

4935 BAR AND KITCHEN GETS EXTERIOR FACELIFT (PHOTOS)

4935 Bar and Kitchen has already moved into the former Tragara space on Cordell Avenue.

But an exterior makeover is making the building more uniquely theirs.

BETHESDA BLUES AND JAZZ SUPPER CLUB NOW PLANS FEBRUARY 2013 OPENING (PHOTOS)

The new Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club, which had planned to open later this month, has now confirmed February 2013 as its targeted opening date.

Work continues inside, and residents of The Whitney claim to have even heard some music at least once.

This one should be worth the wait, if you are as big a fan of New Orleans and Cajun cuisine as I am.

BETHESDA RESTAURANT WINDOWS SHOT OUT - EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

TWO RESTAURANTS

TARGETED, MOTIVE OF

SHOOTER UNKNOWN

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Two Bethesda restaurants on Wisconsin Avenue had their front windows shot out over the weekend.  Pizza Tempo and Shangri-La each had a large front window pane boarded up Monday.

Pizza Tempo

Pizza Tempo

Shangri-La

I've heard nothing official from police in regards to the crimes, as of press time.   It's unclear what the shooter's motive might have been, as the locations and cuisines of the two restaurants are quite far apart.

A SMALL PIECE OF DOWNTOWN BETHESDA HISTORY GOES ON THE AUCTION BLOCK

The ghosts of Bethesda past are haunting eBay this weekend.   A "mint condition" matchbox from Bish Thompson's Seafood Restaurant is on auction, with a starting bid of $4.99.

Bidding ends in about 48 hours.

As a lifelong Bethesda resident, I did dine at Bish Thompson's a number of times in my early years.  Prior to the construction of Bethesda Row, and other new developments, BT's was one of the few major restaurants in downtown Bethesda.

It was located on property now part of the Rosedale Park Apartments.  I was not a big fan of Bish Thompson's myself.  O'Donnell's - a neighboring seafood restaurant - was a bit better, especially the fried shrimp.

My favorite restaurant in the "old days" of Bethesda (a.k.a. the 1980s), was Hot Shoppes, at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and East West Highway.

Oh, well.

If you want to own a piece of downtown Bethesda history, it's possible.

But I wonder how a Bish Thompson's matchbox ended up in Pittsfield, New Hampshire.

BOLOCO BETHESDA ROW SNEAK PREVIEW!

CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING

THURSDAY WITH

FREE BURRITOS!!!

The wait is just about over!  Boloco will officially open on Elm Street at Bethesda Row this Thursday, July 19.

And to celebrate, they'll be giving away FREE burritos!

I was invited to Boloco's Very Important Burrito Eaters party last night, and I made sure to bring back photos and video for you.

Most importantly, how is the food at Boloco?

Well, join me on the red carpet for a visit to our new neighborhood burrito restaurant.

Yes, there was an actual red carpet out front.  The Boloco twist was to replace the standard velvet ropes with burrito-wrapperesque foil.

Inside, I met Cait Simmons, who was handing out name badges, and whose name I recognized from the @boloco Twitter team.  Nicole Ravlin, a publicist for Boloco, gave me a tour of the restaurant.

The first thing you'll probably notice, is the painting of the Bethesda Metro Center on the right side wall of the dining area by Boston artist Sean Boyce.  As a big fan of the Metro Center buildings and plaza, I loved that.

On the far opposite wall are three, large flatscreen TVs.  The left one was displaying @bolocobethesda tweets.  I don't know if it will always be reserved for that purpose, but it would be cool if it was.  Then dining patrons could tweet live and it would show up on the screen.  A second screen was showing ESPN.  Screen 3 had Boloco TV.

I tested several burritos:  Classic Mexican, Teriyaki, Tikka Masala and The Summer.

Jimmy Carter Shake, Tikka Masala burrito, The Summer burrito (mini size)

In retrospect, the Tikka Masala (brown rice, Masala sauce and - in this case - chicken) and Classic Mexican were my favorites.  I usually tend to favor red meat in burritos, but in this case, I found I liked the chicken better than the beef.  The Classic Mexican doesn't disappoint the traditionalist, with just a hint of spicy heat.  Great Pinto beans.  The housemade mango salsa in The Summer burrito was fresh and ripe.  And the rice in all four was moist, and didn't suffer from the "Minute Rice Effect" you encounter at lesser burrito chains.

Burritos come in 3 sizes:  Original, Small, and Mini, the last one being great if you want to try different flavors without committing to a massive burrito.

You can also choose your wrapper (flour or whole wheat tortilla, or just a bowl) protein (chicken, white meat chicken, steak, carnitas, tofu or fajita veggies) and decide if you want to add Boloco's special guacamole.  Or build your own from dozens of options.

For beverages, they were actually handing out beer and wine at the party last night, but I was on a quest for the Jimmy Carter Shake.  I've been waiting to try this concoction of peanut butter, banana and "super premium" ice cream since I first examined the Boloco menu so many months ago.

Alas, the Jimmy Carter was not being sampled last night!  But wait.  Nicole disappeared into the kitchen.  A few minutes later, Jason Hutchinson, Executive Chef and co-founder of Boloco, emerged from the kitchen with a cup in hand.  "I hear you wanted a Jimmy Carter Shake," he said, and handed me a full-size cup (not just a little sample size) and straw.  In my hand, he explained, was the very first Jimmy Carter Shake to be whipped up at Boloco Bethesda.  Now that's world class.

And delicious.  Imagine the limited-edition Elvis Peanut Butter Cups, minus chocolate, added to a rich, vanilla milkshake.  5 stars - my new favorite beverage at Bethesda Row, and I think it will be yours, too.

While testing all of this, I also had a couple of interesting conversations with Allison of Boloco's marketing team, and Boloco CEO and co-founder John Pepper.

Yes, you read that right - the actual CEO was in the house, and talking with guests.  He emphasized the company's focus on advancing employees and treating them well, as if they were customers being served by the company.  To illustrate that, he pointed out a hidden back room you won't see when you visit the restaurant:  a break room for employees, that he asked architects to make nicer even than the main dining area.

Whether it's hormone-free meat or fresh, organic fillings, the larger goals of the company - to change lives and the world with globally-inspired burritos - is reflected throughout the customer experience.  As an example, check out what the side of my Jimmy Carter Shake cup said:

This cup grew up in Blair, Nebraska.  

It really did.  

It's made entirely of plants.  

It's 100% compostable.

You can't help but be impressed.  If you're just at Boloco for delicious burritos, you'll be satisfied.  But if bigger issues concern you as well, you too will be a satisfied customer.  Boloco is a nearly guilt-free dining experience at Bethesda Row, as you can know you are helping people, your health and the environment with every meal.

The focus on employees shines through in their interaction with customers. Without exception, every employee was friendly, courteous and going out of his or her way to ensure a better experience for customers.

And now it's your turn!

Stop by Thursday for FREE burritos!

And we've got a record to break, folks.

3300 burritos is the standing record for Boloco burrito giveaways at a single location.

I know we can beat that!

So get ready to goloco for Boloco Thursday, and bring your family and friends.  They also have a kids menu, and are open for breakfast with breakfast burritos.  Did I mention they have the amazing Coke Freestyle dispenser that lets you create over 100 drink flavors?

Here's an exclusive video to get you warmed up!

PASSION FIN MENU - BETHESDA'S NEWEST SUSHI RESTAURANT!

PASSION FIN IS OPEN!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Passion Fin Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar is finally celebrating its Grand Opening!  Located in the Shops at Sumner Place on Sangamore Road, Passion Fin is - along with Boloco - the most anticipated Bethesda restaurant of 2012.  I have received so many inquiries about when Passion Fin would be opening, and I'm pleased to report the day is finally here.

The restaurant offers a solid Japanese/sushi menu, but true to its "Asian Bistro" subtitle, adds a decidedly Thai twist, and inspiration by way of India.

There are also the Chef's Signature selections, which provide adventurous entrees for those diners not adventurous enough for sushi.

I've always predicted Passion Fin would become a lunch destination for employees of the intelligence campus across the street, and nearby Sibley Hospital.  The restaurant has acknowledged that potential with a large selection of lunch specials.

Passion Fin's fabulous location provides both plenty of free surface parking (and also Ride On Bus access), and some stiff competition from French secret gem Praline, and popular China Pavilion.  Both competitors are steps away in the same shopping center.

Dishes that stand out on the menu include Roti Canai (Indian pancake), Lump Crab Asparagus Soup, Yum Chicken Salad, Lobster and Filet Mignon hibachi dinner (pricey at $26.95), Passion Chicken, and Fire Work Ice Cream.

And, of course, there's the sushi!

Some of the more unique rolls include the Funky Monkey Roll with Shrimp Tempura, spicy lobster salad, cucumber, mango and tempura banana(!!) wrapped with soybean paper and a blast of the chef's special sauce; and the Godzilla Roll, which is just a great name.

Here are exclusive photos of the much sought after menu!  Click to enlarge.

Appetizers

Soups and salads

Sushi bar appetizers

Sushi entrees

Seaweed maki/temaki

Rice maki/temaki

Special rolls!

More special rolls!

From the grill...

Rice and noodle dishes

The chef's signature creations

Desserts

Lunch specials

Lunch sushi platters and hibachi specials

Passion Fin offers take-out dining.  You can phone in your order at 301-229-2848.

So try out Bethesda's newest sushi restaurant, and its Thai-Indian-fusion variety in the Shops at Sumner Place, a great spot to escape the parking nightmare of downtown Bethesda for a change.

Passion Fin, 4611 Sangamore Road, Bethesda.  301-229-2848.

Hours: Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11:30 AM-2:45 PM

             Dinner Mon.-Thurs. 4:30-10:00 PM

             Fri. 4:30-11:00 PM, Sat. 12-11, Sun. 12-9:30 PM