Cubano's pauses alcohol sales in Bethesda

Cubano's at 4907 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda has temporarily paused liquor sales. The restaurant is applying for a new liquor license from Montgomery County. Until it is successful in obtaining one, no beer, wine, or alcoholic cocktails can be served. Cubano's previously held a Class B liquor license from the County. It's unclear how the restaurant lost that license.

Padel Social applies for liquor license in Bethesda

Padel Social has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. The padel sports, training and event facility is expected to open before summer at 5455 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. Capitalizing on one of the world's fastest-growing sports, Padel Social enjoyed a successful initial run on the other side of Westbard Avenue at Westbard Square. Their liquor license hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM.

Update on The Food Market restaurant expansion to Bethesda (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress on the interior fit-out of The Food Market in the ground floor of the Hampden House apartment tower at 4915 Hampden Lane in downtown Bethesda. Construction began last November, to give you a sense of the pace. The American restaurant has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the application is scheduled for April 9, 2026. This is the third location of the growing local restaurant chain in Maryland, the first in Montgomery County, and on of the most-anticipated additions to the dining scene in Bethesda this year.

Bob's Shanghai Bethesda applies for liquor license

Bob's Shanghai Bethesda at 7776 Norfolk Avenue, in the ground floor of the Windsor Bethesda apartment tower, has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. Its hearing has been scheduled for March 5, 2026 at 10:30 AM. The eagerly anticipated Chinese restaurant is located in the former Anthony's Coal-fired Pizza space next to Medium Rare. Work has been going on inside the restaurant since September, but this is the first visible "sign" of progress, as the windows remain covered.

Agora Bethesda restaurant applies for liquor license

Agora Bethesda, the Eastern Mediterranean restaurant opening next spring in the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel at 1 Bethesda Metro Center, has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the request has been scheduled before the County Board of Liquor License Commissioners for October 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM. The kitchen at Agora Bethesda will be helmed by Executive Chef Ismet Sahin. It will feature a mezze-style menu inspired by the traditional cuisines of Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon. Signature dishes will include flame-grilled kebabs, house-made künefe, and pistachio soufflé, alongside vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

La Catrina's liquor license suspended by Montgomery County

Montgomery County has suspended the liquor license of La Catrina Bar & Lounge at 4935 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Under the terms of the suspension, La Catrina will be unable to serve alcoholic beverages from 12:00 AM tomorrow, June 15, 2025 until 11:59 PM on June 28, 2025. According to the Montgomery County Board of License Commissioners, La Catrina violated Section 6.8 of the Board Rules and Regulations, which governs the refilling of - and tampering with - alcoholic beverage containers. The County has ordered that "Alcoholic beverages shall not be removed, sold, served or consumed at this establishment during the period of this suspension."

Article 6.8 of the Board Rules and Regulations

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant applies for liquor license for Bethesda location

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County for its new Bethesda location, opening soon at 4862 Cordell Avenue. A hearing before the County's liquor control board has been scheduled for September 5, 2024 at 1:00 PM. Construction of the restaurant is complete. 

Ruta has an existing location at 327 7th Street SE in Washington, D.C. It has been able to stake a claim as the first Ukrainian restaurant in D.C., and now the first in Bethesda.

Update on Six Ways to Sunday gastropub in Bethesda

Six Ways to Sunday, a Sino-Siamese gastropub, is scheduled to open this summer at 8003 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. Construction continues inside. The restaurant has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. Its application is now scheduled for review by the liquor control board on July 18, 2024 at 11:00 AM. This can give us a rough idea on when to expect the gastropub to open.

Rooted3 applies for liquor license in Bethesda

You soon could be enjoying an adult beverage with your meal at Rooted3 in Bethesda. The organic vegan restaurant and market at 4916 Cordell Avenue has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A Class-D license will allow Rooted3 to sell beer, wine and cocktails. The restaurant's liquor board hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2024 at 10:30 AM.

Bethesda Boards applies for liquor license from Montgomery County

Bethesda Boards, the skateboard shop and event space at 7900 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda, is seeking the ability to serve beer and wine. It has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the license request has been scheduled for September 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Terrapin Bicycles, also located in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood, last year became the first bike shop in Montgomery County to receive a liquor license. Perhaps Bethesda Boards will be the first skate shop to do so.

The Salt Line construction update at Bethesda Row (Photos)

The Salt Line is still blocked off, and has coverings over the windows, but some progress on the highly-anticipated seafood restaurant at 4900 Hampden Lane at Bethesda Row is visible from the outside. Decorative wood shingles have been attached to part of the facade on the Hampden Lane side of the building. In additional Salt Line news, a liquor license hearing date for the restaurant has been scheduled for March 2, 2023 at 10:00 AM. The Salt Line is expected to open this spring.

Marriott seeks liquor license for Bethesda HQ cafe

Marriott International has applied for a liquor license for the ground floor cafe at its Bethesda headquarters at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue. A hearing will be held on the request on December 15, 2022 at 11:30 AM. Can booze entice more employees back into the office? Based on what can be seen through the windows on the ground level and office levels above during business hours, there are not that many employees choosing in-person work over working from home so far.

Foxtrot applies for liquor license at Bethesda Row

Foxtrot, a new market and cafe opening this year at 7262 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row, has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. Their application is scheduled to be reviewed by the County Liquor Control Board on October 6, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Foxtrot will take the place of Mussel Bar, which closed in April. It will function as a corner market for nearby residents, but its business model has a strong emphasis on delivery orders.

Bethesda's Terrapin Bicycles will be the first bike shop in MoCo to have a liquor license

Perhaps another incentive has been found to get more people biking in the area. Terrapin Bicycles, temporarily located at 7920 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda, will soon be moving to its permanent home at 4933 Auburn Avenue. With the approval of the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control, the new location will be the first bike shop in the county to hold a license to sell beer and wine. This follows successful efforts by hair salons over the last decade, for example, to be able to serve beer or wine to customers. The Terrapin Bicycles sign has been installed over the Auburn Avenue storefront, as final preparations at the new space continue.

AMC Montgomery 16 applies for liquor license for MacGuffins Bar as concessions supply chain issues persist

AMC Theatres chose wisely to open its new AMC Montgomery 16 cineplex at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for the opening weekend of The Batman. While the chain was able to turn around the shuttered ArcLight Cinemas for reopening earlier than many anticipated, and Batfans snapped up tickets, the theater isn't even firing on all cylinders yet. Several key concessions items like hot dogs were out of stock in recent days. And the trademark MacGuffins Bar, which AMC had confirmed last week would replace the ArcLight lobby bar, hasn't opened yet.

Apology message from AMC regarding
supply chain issues appears on the 
electronic menu boards at the snack bar

AMC says the temporarily-smaller menu is due to supply chain issues. Items unavailable at the snack bar over the last week include chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, the jumbo Bavarian Legend soft pretzel, and the plant-based Impossible Nuggets. 

Don't worry - Mac & Cheese Bites
are still in stock

It turns out there's a really good reason the bartenders weren't mixing drinks for opening weekend: the theater doesn't have a liquor license yet. AMC has now applied to Montgomery County for a license. A hearing on its application has been scheduled for April 14 at 10:00 AM.

Junction Bistro & Bar to open next month in Friendship Heights

Junction Bistro & Bar had been expected to open last fall at 5471 Wisconsin Avenue at the Collection at Chevy Chase in Friendship Heights. The latest I've heard from an employee at another of the local chain's locations is that it is now on-target to open in February 2022. A liquor license hearing for the restaurant is scheduled for February 17. They are currently hiring a sous chef, line cooks and dishwashers.

Planta applies for liquor license at Bethesda Row

Planta, the new plant-based restaurant coming soon to Bethesda Row, has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the application before the liquor control board has been scheduled for October 21, 2021 at 1:30 PM. 

Planta is taking over the space at 4910 Elm Street, which was previously home to Cafe Deluxe. It had been expected to open this summer, but that has now been pushed to fall.

Bethesda Row Le Pain Quotidien applies for liquor license

Liquor sales are often the biggest profit-generator at dining establishments, and even with Montgomery County's archaic and costly liquor laws and government liquor sales monopoly, more drinks can now be sold under pandemic-related takeout cocktail allowances. Not wanting to pass up such potential revenue, Le Pain Quotidien is applying for a liquor license from the County. Its hearing is scheduled for March 18 at 9:30 AM.

CherCher Ethiopian Cuisine to defend its liquor license after violations at Bethesda restaurant

It's been a bumpy ride for Ethiopian restaurants in Bethesda. Two of the three have closed. The last remaining, CherCher Ethiopian Cuisine now faces a critical test, and could lose a significant amount of revenue if they lose.

Montgomery County's liquor control board is summoning the owners to their September 3, 2020 meeting to explain why the board should not revoke the restaurant's liquor license, or impose fines or other penalties. The board alleges violations of liquor laws have occurred at CherCher, sufficient to fine the business, or take away their license altogether.

CherCher is located at 4921 Bethesda Avenue. They have another location in the District at 9th Street NW.

Hawkers applies for liquor license at Bethesda Row

Hawkers Asian Street Fare has applied for a Montgomery County liquor license for its future Bethesda Row location. A hearing on their application has been scheduled for December 19 at 11:30 AM. But judging from the current absence of construction inside the former Redwood space on Bethesda Lane, Hawkers won't be opening any day soon. Even December 20 sounds like a stretch at this point.