Bethesda has been busy over the past few weeks with new restaurants unveiling themselves, new menus at local standbys and more. Dive in and take a look at the latest Bethesda dining notebook to see what you’ve been missing, and what you should keep an eye out for.
Wine bar and restaurant Vino Volo has opened, right next to Mon Ami Gabi (and on the subject of Mon Ami, don’t forget to check out their seasonal fall menu). It’s their first non-airport location, and they’re entering a competitive market in Bethesda Row where there are certainly plenty of options to grab a glass of wine...
They have put together a stylish space which includes a large area dedicated to full-service tables, a bar and lounge, and also a retail wine shop. The highlight is their collection of wine flights. Order a 3-wine flight and it gets presented to you on a tray with the full tasting notes, bottle and brand information, and pricing, conveniently placed under the reserved spot for each glass. Order the roasted Marcona almonds as a snack and you’ll be all set. They also have a full dinner menu.
Another new spot in town is Himalayan Heritage, taking over the apparently haunted space right next to the best outdoor patio in Bethesda at The Nest. Himalayan Heritage has had a popular location in Adams Morgan in Washington D.C. for several years, and jumped on their chance to grab the open space near Bethesda Row.
Everyone’s favorite gelato joint is continuing to roll out special flavors. Beginning on December 10 and lasting through the end of the year, Dolcezza will be showcasing three holiday-themed gelatos: Ginger Cardamom Pistachio, with freshly grated local ginger and roasted pistachios, King Leo Peppermint, a dark chocolate gelato with King Leo soft peppermint folded in, and Eggnog, which includes Wild Turkey Bourbon.
The Robert Wiedmaier empire continues growing, with his latest establishment Wildwood Kitchen, located in the Wildwood shopping center which is anchored by Balducci’s. The restaurant is a change of pace for Wiedmaier, as he is focusing on Mediterranean inspired dishes and healthier fare. The other change of pace is that five of his key employees have each received a 5 percent ownership share in the restaurant. It’s Wiedmaier’s second Bethesda restaurant, joining the always busy Mussel Bar.
If you wanted to venture a little bit farther away from downtown Bethesda, Miller’s Rockville Ale House is now open on the Pike, in the former Hooter’s location in the Congressional shopping center. They have a very large food menu, but the draw is certainly what’s on tap. They have over 30 beers on tap, and several dozen more by the bottle, and feature daily drink specials of all sorts.
Finally, for the dedicated epicurean-adventurers out there in the Washington D.C. area, The Coterie has shifted gears and is now Cheftabl, a system which will allow diners to use their smartphone to find customized off-menu dining experiences from partner chefs and restaurants in Washington D.C., with seamless reservations and payment processing. They’re currently raising funds on IndieGogo.com to launch the new service.
More from this contributor:
Bethesda Dining News & Notes Fall 2012
Bethesda Dining News & Notes June 2012
Bethesda Dining News & Notes May 2012
Best of Bethesda Dining & Drink
Jake Emen is a freelance writer based in Bethesda, Md., with experience covering local news stories and events for a number of online publications. He is also the owner of the boxing news website ProBoxing-Fans.com.
