TACO THERAPY LUNCH POP-UP AT REDWOOD IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

You could win a taco lunch for 10 at Redwood on Bethesda Lane next week. Just stop in during lunch hours (11:30-2:30) between Monday, April 7 and Friday, April 11, order one of the tacos on the menu below, and fill out the contest entry form.

With the April 7 launch of Taco Therapy at Redwood, and the opening of Gringos & Mariachis on Cordell Avenue recently, upscale tacos are trending in downtown Bethesda. At Redwood, premium taco fillings like Filet Mignon, pork belly, rotisserie chicken and daily fresh seafood make the $4 cost not bad for lunch. You can also go gluten-free with their corn tortilla option.

The taco pop-up menu will be available in the bar.

Here's the taco menu (click to enlarge for detail):

Redwood Restaurant and Bar

7121 Bethesda Lane

301.656.5515

BRICKSIDE TO LAUNCH LUNCH APRIL 7 IN BETHESDA

Popular Cordell Avenue restaurant and bar Brickside Food and Drink is launching lunch hours on Monday, April 7 at 11:00 AM. Brickside already has been serving dinner, and weekend brunch, since opening just over a year ago.

Brickside, 4866 Cordell Avenue, (301) 312-6160

LUNCH AT GRAPESEED STARTING TODAY IN BETHESDA

Grapeseed chef and owner Jeff Heineman is bringing lunch back, starting at 11:30 this morning. Lunch will now be served Tuesday to Friday, 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

For this week only, to celebrate the launch of lunch (only Chuck McCann and Bob Denver could appreciate that alliterative phrase), you can get any Main or Entrée salad for half-price.

Interesting dishes include 2 kinds of Calamari, grilled swordfish, Grapeseed Burger on a housemade pretzel bun, and a Korean chicken sandwich with kimchee.

Prices are relatively reasonable - and an absolute steal at half-price - given that Grapeseed often lands on top restaurant lists in the DC region.

Grapeseed is located at 4865 Cordell Avenue, next to Freddy's Lobster.

BETHESDA ROW RESTAURANT WEEK APRIL 15-21, 2013

Bethesda Row Restaurant Week returns April 15-21! Enjoy a $15 three-course lunch or a $30 three-course dinner, just in time for Spring outdoor dining weather. This is one of those rare opportunities during the year to try out several restaurants around the Row in the same week, without emptying your bank account.

Menus are coming soon, but here is a list of participating restaurants:

Assaggi
American Tap Room
Café Deluxe
Jaleo
Lebanese Taverna
Le Pain Quotidien
Luke’s Lobster
Mon Ami Gabi
Mussel Bar & Grille (lunch only) Parker’s American Bistro
Raku
Redwood
Vino Volo

BETHESDA MARKET PLANNING TO OPEN NEXT WEEK AT SUMNER PLACE

Bethesda Market owner Vijay Mhera tells me their grand opening is now scheduled for late next week. The exact date will be announced as the opening approaches.

As you know, this all-new market is opening in the space that previously housed the original Bethesda Market until 2011, at the Shops at Sumner Place on Sangamore Road.

Mhera says the new market will offer craft beers, fine wine, freshly-prepared deli sandwiches, and will be using premium Boar's Head deli meats.  He adds that customers will also enjoy many tastings at the store, to help familiarize them with the high-quality product lines the market will carry.

There's a lot of excitement about the market opening among nearby residents, who have had to drive way out of the neighborhood to buy beer and wine for the last year.  It will also be a new lunch option for employees at the federal intelligence campus across the street.

Stay tuned for the exact opening date.

BETHESDA CHIPOTLE CLOSED UNTIL DECEMBER 11

Chipotle in downtown Bethesda closed late Friday night for extensive kitchen renovations.  The restaurant will not reopen until 11 AM on December 11, 2012.

Many frustrated customers were arriving to find the doors locked.

If you are in that area, and want burritos for lunch during the closure, the easiest thing to do is to board the Bethesda Circulator on Woodmont Avenue.  Take it to Elm Street at Bethesda Row, walk west on Elm, and Boloco will be on your left.

Boloco has a similar menu, and you can just take another free Circulator trip back when you're done (or with your carry-out bag).

BOLD BITE HOT DOG CART HITS STREETS OF BETHESDA

FAIRMONT AVENUE

RESTAURANT

GOES MOBILE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

While the food truck market continues to expand, Bethesda's Bold Bite is entering the curbside dining phenomenon backwards, launching a food cart out of the existing bricks-and-mortar hot dog restaurant on Fairmont Avenue.

While world-famous chef Jose Andres recently made news with the launch of his food truck, Pepe, Bold Bite's venture is a more natural development.  In fact, Bold Bite the restaurant was originally inspired by co-owner Alonso Roche's memories of hot dog and sausage carts in Venezuela.  So, perhaps it was inevitable after all.

Bold Bite Cart

The cart made an inaugural run September 24, with New York and Chicago-style hot dogs on board.  Yesterday, it made another appearance at Wisconsin Avenue and Leland Street.

This is a good chance for those who work on the Bethesda Row side of town - but only buy lunch within walking distance (although I consider Bold Bite within walking distance of Bethesda Row, it just depends how much  lunch time you have) - to try Bold Bite.

Follow @BoldBite on Twitter to find out what days the cart is out, and where to find it.  It's a chance to literally "buy local," as your dollars "stay in the neighborhood" when you purchase from Bold Bite.

BETHESDA RESTAURANT WEEK MENUS JULY 16-22, 2012

Why waste time clicking all over the internet for Bethesda-Chevy Chase Restaurant Week menus, when I've done all the work for you?

Surprisingly, many restaurants haven't posted their menus so far.  But here are the ones that have:

Assaggi

Lunch and Dinner 

Jaleo

Lunch and Dinner 

Lebanese Taverna

Lunch and Dinner 

Lia's

Lunch and Dinner 

Mon Ami Gabi

Lunch and Dinner 

Passage to India

Dinner (this is their January RW menu, but it should be fairly similar)

Tragara Ristorante

Lunch and Dinner 

(Great chance to try this expensive restaurant for a low price)

Throughout Restaurant Week, Lunches are $13-16, and Dinners are $33.

Enjoy Restaurant Week, and I will add any additional menus as soon as they are posted.

Here is a complete list of participating restaurants:

American Tap Room 7278 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-656-1366	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Assaggi Mozzarella Bar 4838 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-951-1988	Lunch $13 & Dinner $33
Bezu Restaurant 9812 Falls Rd., #G, Potomac, MD 301-299-3000	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Brasserie Monte Carlo 7929 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-656-9225	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
The Capital Grille 5310 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 301-718-7812	Lunch $16 & $33 Dinner
Clyde's of Chevy Chase 5441 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 301-951-9600	Lunch $13
Food, Wine & Co. 7272 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-652-8008	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Geppetto Restaurant 10257 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 301-493-9230	Lunch $13
Grapeseed American Bistro & Wine Bar 4865 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-986-9592	Lunch $13 & Dinner $33
Guardado’s 4918 Del Ray Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-986-4920	Lunch $13 & Dinner $33
The Irish Inn at Glen Echo Restaurant 6119 Tulane Ave., Glen Echo, MD 301-229-6600	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Jaleo - Bethesda 7271 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-913-0003	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
La Ferme 7101 Brookville Rd., Chevy Chase, MD 301-986-5255	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Lebanese Taverna Bethesda 7141 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD 301-951-8681	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Le Vieux Logis 7925 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 301-652-6816	Dinner $33
Lia’s 4435 Willard Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 240-223-5427	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Mon Ami Gabi 7239 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-654-1234	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Newton’s Table 4917 Elm St., Bethesda, MD 301-718-0550	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Oakville Grille and Wine Bar 10257 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 301-897-9100	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Old Angler’s Inn 10801 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD 301-365-2425	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Passage To India 4931 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-656-3373	Dinner $33
Persimmon Restaurant 7003 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-654-9860	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Raku- Bethesda 7240 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-718-8680	Dinner $33
Redwood Restaurant 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, MD 301-656-5155	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Tavira 8401 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 301-652-8684	Lunch $16 & Dinner $33
Tragara Ristorante 4935 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 301-951-4935	Lunch $13 & Dinner $33

ROTI MEDITERRANEAN GRILL IS COMING TO BETHESDA!

SOMEBODY NEEDS A S'HUG

Sultan Sandwiches all around!  Roti Mediterranean Grill will be opening in late 2012 at the Westlake Crossing Shopping Center in Bethesda.  You know, that place right next to Westfield Montgomery Mall.

If you haven't been to the Roti in DC (or Chicago, or lots of places around the country), it will be kind of like Cava Grill here at Bethesda Row.  The service is similar, also:  cafeteria, build-a-meal, choose this, skip that... you know the drill.

This will be just one of many Mediterranean-inspired restaurants in Bethesda.  Besides Cava, there are Lebanese Taverna at Bethesda Row, Yamas Grill on Rugby Avenue, Queen Bee Cafe on Bethesda Avenue, just to name a few!

But Roti is highly-rated, so it should be highly-welcome, especially by the lunch crowd working at the Rockledge office parks, and in the mall.

NEW SPECIAL SANDWICH AT JETTIES BETHESDA

THE ROTARY

Outdoor dining season is officially underway in downtown Bethesda.  Jetties is celebrating with a limited-time-only sandwich with ingredients that scream, "summer!"

The Rotary's fresh bun is having a hard time containing all of that BBQ Beef, and generously-shredded coleslaw.

Jetties is located at Veterans Park, where the fountain is up and running for summer, making it an ideal place to enjoy your sandwich during a lunch break from the office.

Stop by Jetties today, and don't forget the napkins.

BIKE TO WORK IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA!

Get Started at a Special Event in 

Veterans Park during Lunch Tuesday 

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Do you work in downtown Bethesda?  And live within biking distance?  With gas prices going up, and many people's desire to protect the environment and improve their health, bicycle commuting is increasing in popularity.

If you've thought about it, attend a special event at lunchtime Tuesday, April 24, in Veterans Park at Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues.

At this Bethesda Transportation Solutions event, you can sign up for Bike to Work Day 2012, and see the grand prize bike you'll be eligible to win by doing so!

Score extra points with your boss by coming back from lunch knowing how your workplace can earn Bike Friendly certification.

Learn about the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and their programs and advocacy in the region.

Griffin Cycle will give you tips on basic bike maintenence and safety.

Learn how to load your bike onto a bus, for a bus-bike commute, and how to get started as a bike commuter the right way.

All of this and more, FREE from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

As a bonus, you'll be right near some of the best lunch options in Old town Bethesda:  Jetties, The Parva, Bold Bite, BlackFinn, Hanaro and Black's Bar and Kitchen!  Grab your lunch and come to Veteran's Park.

If you have questions about the event or bike commuting, contact Rachel Porter at rporter@bethesda.org or 301-656-0868, ext. 126.