Spanish Diner posted a farewell message to patrons last night at Bethesda Row. The hometown restaurant of celebrity chef José Andrés, its homestyle spin on Spanish cuisine replaced his original tapas concept Jaleo at 7271 Woodmont Avenue in May of 2021. "Life is memories. We hope you remember us well!" was posted in Spanish at the restaurant Wednesday night. This morning, the Bethesda location's website is gone.
What's next for this prominent corner spot is currently unknown. But if Andrés is not involved, an exit from Bethesda by its most-famous chef, and one of its most-famous residents, would be an explosive development in the decline of Montgomery County. Andrés has no shortage of ventures to juggle these days. He has a knack for popping up anywhere in the world to provide meals as crises and disasters unfold. A few weeks ago, he was in Los Angeles at the height of the wildfires and destruction, chatting with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Duchess and Duke of Sussex. His portfolio expansion includes a luxury hotel he expects to open in Georgetown in 2027. Is Bethesda on his calendar? Stay tuned!
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| Spanish Diner Bethesda Row website is gone |
And what happened to the Call Your Mother bagel place on the corner of Old Georgetown? It's gone.
ReplyDeleteThey relocated it. Last day was Saturday.
Delete8:31 - relocated where and why? there's a back story there. that not is looking pretty tired though. their bagels are darn tasty with the pastrami. dang!
DeleteBack as a memory like Ollie's Trolley, which were the best burgers and fries evah!
ReplyDeleteGROSS!
DeleteMoving on from Bethesda would not be a explosive development. Andres opened Jaleo in Bethesda in 2002 and has been serving good food on that corner for more than 20 years. He is exponentially more popular and busy with restaurants around the country and serving disaster relief areas around the world. It's been a good run whether he continues in Bethesda or doesn't. It has literally nothing to do with the local economy, which remains strong overall. Sometimes it's just time to move on...and I'm sure another restaurant would eagerly take that corner location if Andres does.
ReplyDeleteThis place absolutely sucked. Glad it's gone.
ReplyDeleteYou know what would absolutely crush in that location? A Barecelona Wine Bar.
Agreeeeeeddd
Delete8:31am Bethesda needs a good wine bar. Used to have Grapeseed and, briefly, Vino Volo.
DeleteI agree 100%. That place sucked!
DeleteJust as well, I do like their overpriced but overstuffed bagels alright but these "trolleys' and food trucks simply need to be better inspected. It's better all the way around to patronize their brick and mortar operations than these that usually lack running water not to mention the unfair competition when compared to real rent paying businesses. While we're on that subject, how does the Farm Women’s Market get away with renting out spaces to those freeloaders? Should be against their 'charter,' real businesses shouldn't have to compete with trailers.
ReplyDeleteThere's a whole lot of 'wow' in this post.
DeleteYou mess with my burrito truck, I will find you...
DeleteSmaller plates, what a gimmick!
ReplyDelete"Celebrity" chef. Maybe he got deported!
ReplyDeleteAlbertE: I have not heard of a replacement for the truck, but will post as soon as I know.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you allow anonymous posts here?
DeleteGood. The food was always overpriced even for here. The waitresses were terrible, especially the loud, visibly intoxicated girl from Fredneck who (barely) served us the last time I went, charged the wrong prices for our drinks (higher, of course,) and disappeared entirely as soon as she dropped the check, which we had to ask a waiter for in the first place.
ReplyDeleteJose Andres lost all my respect when he attempted to provide food aid to enemies of the USA, Hamas, oops, I mean the several Palestinians who are totally not terrorists. That bit him in the ass really fast.
Please excuse my typo on the last one. Back to Jose Andres. He's done a ton of charity and helped thousands of people and that's great. But I've heard a lot of the attention and accolades he's gotten have gone to his head and he's kind of a jerk now but was anything but before.
ReplyDeleteDoes he still have his fancy Spanish style mansion behind Connie Morella Library, I always assumed it was his, maybe ICE raided it!
ReplyDeleteHe lives in the Burning Tree part of Bethesda, not near the Morella library.
DeleteI stand corrected, thank you.
DeleteIs there a valid reason the sign is ONLY printed in Espanol? Really bad look, seems kinda racist don't you think?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. If Bethesda Crab House ever shut it's doors permanently and left a goodbye thanks loyalty sign in only English, the owner would get vilified in the press by the usual suspects...
DeleteThe food was disappointing. People I had high hopes when it first opened but their enthusiasm quickly declined.
ReplyDelete