Thursday, August 24, 2023

Ala Bethesda opening in vacant Positano building (Photos)


Ala Bethesda
will fill the long-vacant Positano Ristorante Italiano building at 4948 Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. The cuisine won't stray that far from Italy, to an historically-dynamic culinary region further east in the Mediterranean: the Levant. Ala's existing Dupont Circle location was added to the prestigious Michelin guide, often a first step for the later awarding of a star or Bib Gourmand designation. It must be noted that Positano remained popular to the end with Jimmy Traettino at the helm, and never failed as a business; it closed as the result of a family real estate dispute.



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

By the end the place was a dump. It only was able to stay open due to the comedy open mike nights. It was not a place people were going to eat and enjoy the food.

Anonymous said...

That’s awesome news! Ala in DuPont is really good. Hopefully they will keep the outdoor seating and grapevines at this location.

Anonymous said...

Welcome news! Positano has become such an eyesore in downtown Bethesda.

Anonymous said...

An eyesore? Are you blind... It has the nicest looking facade of any restaurant or building vacant or otherwise with the nice tile, terra cotta & grapevines!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to see this restaurant and Jimmy go. Yes, it was a bit ragged at the end, but the food and service was always good.

Anonymous said...

Just gotta mention the great sign posted by EagleBank across the street, on the fence in front of the construction (which the bank must have been involved in the financing of):
"The Eagle Has Lended."
I laughed out loud, but a lot of the younger crowd probably won't get it.

ala said...

Yes we will keep grape vines:)

Anonymous said...

Seemed like after Luigi and Angela left Positano, Jimmy let it go downhill, fast. Glad another great restaurant is taking this space!