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PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

pedals along the towpath in the

Canal National Historical Park. Photo by Skip Brown

MoCo: Cosmopolitan and rooted

I’VE BEEN GRASPING FOR a concise way to describe Montgomery County, its people and what it’s like to live here.

Yes, it has affluence—though not uniformly. There’s access and proximity to power. The physical landscape is a mix of rural, suburban and urban. And the county has long been a place where people want to start their families and educate their kids.

In more recent decades, “MoCo,” as locals call it, has grown to be incredibly diverse, with people of color accounting for the majority of residents. And, more and more, it has amenities that serve younger generations, namely millennials and Gen-Z. That can mean family-friendly attractions or options for a great night on the town.

Basically, the county has become a cosmopolitan place to put down roots.

I’m not just speaking in the abstract. I’m talking about my own experience.

When my husband and I moved to the county nearly seven years ago, we had many “lifestyle” preferences for the community that we lived in. Some were pretty specific to us as adults: We wanted music and theater venues, arthouse cinema, dining options from around the world, hoppy local brews, access to bigleague sports nearby and plentiful parks. And we had requirements specific to the family we would start: a high-quality school system, sports leagues, summer camps, opportunities to study music and arts, family-friendly dining and, again, plentiful parks.

We found all those things here. And yet there’s always more to explore. I’ve popped my son in his car seat and driven through the Agricultural Reserve, a huge portion of the upcounty set aside for farming, to the historic site of White’s Ferry. We’ve capered around Glen Echo Park, the long-ago amusement park that’s been repurposed as an arts-centric destination. We’ve walked through rainbows of blooms at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton Regional Park.

Whether you’re a true “newcomer,” a lifelong resident or something in between, Bethesda Magazine wants to help you make the most of living here. With this guide, we’ve assembled great things to do, performance venues, farmers markets, where to find amazing pizzas, a dining guide, sports and arts resources for kids, a parks roundup and a trail guide. The Best of Bethesda readers’ picks nested throughout this edition provide recommendations for places, products and services you can rely on.

We’ve also included the basics on hospitals, urgent care clinics, schools, communities, the housing market, government, county services and shopping.

There are 128 pages of goodness to explore here, and even that’s just scratching the surface. To stay in the know on what’s happening, go to bethesdamagazine.com, where you can read daily news updates from the crack reporting team at Bethesda Beat and read and subscribe to Bethesda Magazine.

There, you’ll find more about new attractions and developments as they’re happening. You’ll learn about the new Marriott headquarters in the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda alongside a new Marriott hotel that includes a restaurant, Seventh State, and a swank rooftop bar, the Hip Flask. You can read about another fresh addition to the county: the Olney Cropdusters, part of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. And as more farm breweries and pickleball courts open, we’ll be there to cover those, too.

We’re the experts on MoCo. We hope you find enjoyment in this guide and use it to navigate to fun and fulfilling exploits in Montgomery County.

Anne Tallent Executive Editor, Bethesda Magazine anne.tallent@bethesdamagazine.com

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Things to Do

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?

See a show or concert at one of the county’s world-class performing arts venues. Visit a local winery or brewery. Explore the county’s variety of parks and historic sites. Don’t forget to stop by a farmers market for picnic supplies before your day out.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Paddle boats on the 6-acre lake at rio in Gaithersburg

20 Great Things to Do

Hike Sugarloaf Mountain

With 15 miles of trails and breathtaking views from the top, Sugarloaf Mountain in Dickerson is a prime location for hiking. There are designated parking areas and several marked trails offering easy and steep approaches to the summit, which rises to 1,282 feet.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. spring/summer, 4 p.m. fall/ winter, $5 suggested donation, 7901 Comus Road, Dickerson, sugarloafmd.com

Try a craft beer at a local brewery

Montgomery County is home to nearly a dozen breweries, each creating its own crafted beers and offering visitors unique settings in which to sample them. Whether you’d like to kick back with an IPA at Waredaca Brewing Company located on a working horse farm in Laytonsville, or sip a crisp lager at Denizens Brewing Company’s urban beer garden in Silver Spring, you’ll find both farm and urban experiences available in the county.

Various locations, visitmontgomery.com/taste/

breweries

Taste the fruit of local vines

Take a trip to wine country by visiting one of the half a dozen wineries in the county. Some, like Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard and Windridge Vineyards, offer tastings in bucolic settings. Others, including The Urban Winery of Silver Spring and Olney Winery, allow aspiring vintners to make their own wine. Various locations, visitmontgomery.com/taste/ wineries-2/

Kayak the water trail at Black Hill Regional Park

Rent a kayak or bring your own and explore Black Hill Regional Park from a unique perspective. The water trail leads kayakers on a tour of the three creeks that flow together to form the 505-acre Little Seneca Lake at the heart of the park. Kayaks are available to rent from May through September.

20930 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/black-hillregional-park

Stroll through Brookside Gardens

Brookside Gardens features formal gardens, beautiful plantings and peaceful ponds and streams on 50 acres in Wheaton Regional Park. A paved path makes the award-winning public display garden a stroller-friendly destination. Scenic stops along the trail include a stone labyrinth, Japanese Tea House, Reflection Terrace and Fragrance Garden.

Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ brookside-gardens/

See a concert at Strathmore

Musical performances at Strathmore range from those by world-class symphony orchestras to budding local talents. The campus includes the Music Center, a nearly 2,000-seat concert hall; the Mansion, which hosts smaller concerts, teas and art exhibitions; and outdoor concert spaces including the lawn and Patio Stage, a new addition in 2021.

5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, strathmore.org

In Montgomery County, you don't have to travel far for outdoor adventures, cultural experiences and activities for all ages and interests. Here are a few ideas for great things to do nearby.

Windridge Vineyards

See a play at a local theater

Local theaters in Montgomery County have a strong reputation for staging thought-provoking and powerful performances. While theaters were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, they found ways to continue to engage with audiences online. Bethesda’s Round House Theatre and Olney Theatre Center are well known for their dramas and musicals and Imagination Stage in Bethesda and Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park broaden kids’ horizons with their children’s performances. Various locations

Paddle boats at rio

Paddle boats take the form of colorful dragons, graceful swans and yellow ducklings at Gaithersburg’s rio lakefront shopping center. These character boats, as well as traditional paddle boats, are available to rent on weekends in the spring and summer. A visit to rio, with its boardwalk, carousel, restaurants and movie theater, often feels like a mini vacation.

$20-$30 per half hour, 9841 Washingtonian Blvd., Gaithersburg riolakefront.com/lakefrontfun

Ride a miniature train at Cabin John or Wheaton regional parks

Hop aboard a miniature train that chugs through the forest at Cabin John or Wheaton regional parks. The trains at both locations have five passenger cars, but Wheaton’s includes one that is wheelchair accessible. A ride along the roughly 2-mile route at each park lasts 15 to 20 minutes.

Cabin John Regional Park Train Station, 7410 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda; Wheaton Regional Park Train Station, 2002 Shorefield Road, Wheaton; montgomeryparks.org/trains

Ride the historic carousel at Glen Echo Park

The rides at Glen Echo Park, a one-time amusement park, have long been replaced by art studios and performance spaces that have taken residence in the Art Deco-style structures. But the historic Dentzel Carousel, which turned 100 in 2021, is still operating. Visitors can ride the carousel from May through September.

$2-$5, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, glenechopark.org/carousel

Stay overnight in a lockhouse on the C&0 Canal

Learn the history of the C&O Canal firsthand by spending a night in a lockhouse. Guests can rent the lockhouses, which were living quarters for lock keepers who operated locks on the canal in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The structures are restored with historic furnishings and décor and each tells the history of a different time period.

$110-$160 per night, Canaltrust.org

Pick your own produce

Head out to the farm and come home with your own hand-picked haul. In the spring, you can find strawberries, cherries, peaches and other crops available to pick at farms in the county. Come back in the fall for apples and pumpkins.

Photo of the cast of Quixote Nuevo by Margot Schulman.

Photo of Harrison Bryan in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by C. Stanley Photography.

things to do

Some farms also hold seasonal festivals, with hayrides, mazes and other family-friendly attractions.

Various locations

See the art at Glenstone

Glenstone, a private museum in Potomac, offers a remarkable collection of modern and contemporary art, impressive architecture and nearly 300 acres of stunning landscape that includes rolling grassy meadows, shady woods and streams.

Glenstone, 12100 Glen Road, Potomac, free, reservations required, glenstone.org

Bike the Capital Crescent Trail

One of the most popular bike trails in the area, the Capital Crescent Trail runs from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., through Bethesda to Silver Spring. The 11-mile trail was built on the former railbed of the B&O Railroad. Access the trail in downtown Bethesda and follow the path through leafy neighborhoods, over bridges and near streams. The trail is currently closed east of Bethesda for construction of the Purple Line. montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/capitalcrescent-georgetown-branch-trails

Enjoy ice skating year-round

The weather is no reason not to go ice skating in Montgomery County. During the winter, Rockville and Silver Spring host outdoor public skating rinks. For those who want to glide on the ice without braving the elements, Cabin John Ice Rink, Wheaton Ice Arena and Rockville Ice Arena offer public skating time, lessons and hockey leagues.

Cabin John Ice Rink, 10610 Westlake Drive, Rockville, montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ cabin-john-regional-park/cabin-john-ice-rink Wheaton Ice Arena, 11717 Orebaugh Ave., Wheaton, montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ wheaton-ice-arena Rockville Ice Arena, 50 Southlawn Court, Rockville, rockvilleicearena.com

Swing from the trees at the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Buckle into a safety harness and make your way through obstacles such as rope ladders, suspended bridges and zip lines that range from 12 to 65 feet above the ground at The

Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School, a so-called aerial park offering 15 courses. $16-$64, 16701 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, sandyspringadventurepark.org

Wander through a sunflower field

The sunflowers planted annually at the McKeeBeshers Wildlife Management Area in Poolesville are meant to attract game birds for hunting, but the fields also attract people who come from all over to see the acres of brilliant yellow flowers, which usually reach peak bloom in July. 16898-16500 River Road, Poolesville, dnr. maryland.gov

Learn about slavery in Maryland and the Underground Railroad

Learn about the life of Josiah Henson, who escaped from slavery and became an abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad, at the Josiah Henson Museum & Park. The museum and park are on the site of a plantation where Henson was enslaved. His story inspired the famous novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

$4-$5, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ josiah-henson-park

Maryland Youth Ballet

One of the region’s finest schools of classical ballet.

Make a splash at the Germantown Splashpark

For little ones who want to play in the water but aren’t yet confident swimmers, the Germantown SplashPark is the perfect choice for summer fun. The park features water-jet fountains, slides, a waterfall, water bucket drops and sprayers. Get your feet (or your whole body) wet without taking the plunge. Bonus: The park is adjacent to a mini-golf course.

$5.50 for SplashPark, $4.50 for mini-golf, $8 for both, 18056 Central Park Circle, Boyds, montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/splashpark-mini-golf

Experience a new cuisine

With some of the most ethnically diverse cities and towns in the country located in Montgomery County, it’s no surprise that you can find just about any type of international cuisine here. Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Cuban, Korean and Ethiopian are just a few of the options available. Can’t make up your mind? Try a food hall, such as The Block in North Bethesda or The Spot or Pike Kitchen in Rockville. Each location offers a collection of innovative Asian eateries all under one roof.

Various locations

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ADVENTURE PARK AT SANDY SPRING

savoring a pint on a working horse farm to relaxing with a glass of wine at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, the Tastemakers Trail is designed to be your ulitmate resource for the perfect beverage centric weekend.

The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring

A crowd enjoys a show at The Fillmore in Silver Spring.

Music Venues

AMP by Strathmore

AMP opened in March 2015 in Pike & Rose, a growing downtown area on Rockville Pike. Located a quick walk from the White Flint Metro, AMP hosts rock, blues, jazz, folk and R&B concerts, as well as live comedy shows. The club has capacity for 230 people for performances in its 2,800-square-foot concert space. There’s also a sleek, modern space for private events—from weddings to corporate meetings— which features floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to Juliet balconies.

11810 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.ampbystrathmore.com

Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club

The Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club opened its doors in 2013 in the Bethesda Theater, a historic Art Deco movie palace on Wisconsin Avenue. With live entertainment several nights each week, the club features 300 seats for dinner and an additional 200 performance seats, which go on sale when the dinner seats

are sold out. Performances cover a wide variety of genres from blues and jazz to Motown, country, rock and comedy acts.

7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 240-330-4500, www.bethesdabluesjazz.com

The

Fillmore Silver Spring

The Fillmore opened in 2011 in downtown Silver Spring and quickly became one of the area’s most popular entertainment venues for live music and events. A spin-off of the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco, the hall recalls the original venue, with dark red velvet-covered walls decorated with rock posters and four crystal chandeliers hanging from 40-foot ceilings. Performers range from rock and pop bands to R&B and hip-hop acts, and from electronic musicians to stand-up comedians.

8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-960-9999, www.fillmoresilverspring.com

Strathmore

Strathmore provides multidisciplinary arts pro-

gramming in The Mansion at Strathmore and The Music Center at Strathmore on its 15-acre site just north of the Capital Beltway in North Bethesda.

The Music Center, a 1,976-seat concert hall and education complex, opened in 2005. The venue presents 150 performances per year by major international folk, blues, pop, R&B, jazz, world and classical music and show tunes artists. Moreover, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents several performances at the Music Center each year, and there are more than 75 music and art education classes each week. 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301-581-5200

The Mansion consists of the 100-seat Dorothy M. and Maurice C. Shapiro Music Room, a tea Room, the Shop at Strathmore, the Gudelsky Concert Pavilion and gazebo, and the firstfloor galleries and Gudelsky Gallery Suite for Strathmore Fine Art.

10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org

Whether you’re in the mood for jazz, classical or hip-hop, you don’t have to go far to hear great music

BY MAURA MAHONEY

5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD

We believe the arts bring people together. They open eyes. Stretch minds. Shrink chasms. We belong to the community, and the arts belong to all of us. Welcome to Strathmore.

things to do

Farmers Markets

Bethesda Central Farm Market

Open Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (January to February); open Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (March-December).

7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda, centralfarmmarkets.com/bethesda

Derwood Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (April 23 to Sept. 3, 2022).

16501 Redland Road, Rockville milkladymarkets.org/derwood

Casey Farmers Market

Open Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (May through November). Select Thursdays December through April

810 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/farmers-markets

Garrett Park Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April to December, except the Saturday after Thanksgiving; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. January to March. 4600 Waverly Ave., Garrett Park garrettparkmd.gov

Kensington Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (year-round). Howard Avenue, Kensington (Kensington Train Station parking lot), explorekensington.com/farmers-market

Main Street Farmers and Artists Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (year-round).

301 Main St., Gaithersburg (Kentlands Main Street Pavilion), gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/farmersmarkets

Montgomery Farm Women’s Co-operative Market

Inside market: Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., produce and flower vendors 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

7155 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda

Montgomery Village

Farmers’ Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (June through October).

9801 Centerway Road, Montgomery Village (Christ the Servant Lutheran Church parking lot), mvfarmersmarket.com

Olney Farmers & Artists Market

Open Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (year-round). 2801 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, olneyfarmersmarket.com

Pike Central Farm Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Open April through December).

935 Prose Street., North Bethesda, pike.centralfarmmarkets.com

Rockville Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (May through November).

Corner of Route 28 and Monroe Street,

Rockville (Rockville Town Center), rockvillemd.gov/farmers

Shady Grove Farmers Market

Open Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (June through November).

Corner of Key West Avenue and Broschart Road, Rockville, milkladymarkets.org/shady-grove-market.html

FreshFarm Downtown Silver Spring Market

Open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (January through March); open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (April to December).

Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Place, freshfarm.org/ markets/downtown-silver-spring

PHOTO COURTESY FRESHFARM DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING MARKET

A shopper looks at produce at the FreshFarm Downtown Silver Spring Market.

Whether you’re craving heirloom tomatoes or you just want to stroll and browse, farm-fresh produce is never far away. Here’s a sampling of the markets in our area.

PHOTO BY MARGOT SCHULMAN

Performance Venues

Imagination Stage

Imagination Stage offers year-round professional theater for young audiences and classes in acting, musical theater and dance for ages 1-18. 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, 301-961-6060, imaginationstage.org

Olney Theatre Center

A professional, award-winning regional theater, Olney Theatre Center offers a diverse array of productions year-round.

2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400, olneytheatre.org

Robert E. Parilla

Performing Arts Center

On the Rockville campus of Montgomery College, the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center hosts concerts, dance performances and theatrical productions by student, community and touring groups.

51 Mannakee St., Rockville, 240-567-5301, mcblogs.montgomerycollege.edu/reppac

Round House Theatre

One of the leading professional theaters in the region, the award-winning Round House Theatre presents a six-show season of new plays, modern classics and musicals.

4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda, 240-644-1100, roundhousetheatre.org

Silver Spring Black Box Theatre

Adventure Theatre MTC

Located in Glen Echo Park, Adventure Theatre

MTC produces professional musical theater productions for children and offers training in theater and musical theater.

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, adventuretheatre-mtc.org

Arts Barn

Housed in a former horse stable, the Arts Barn is a visual and performing arts center, offering a stage for community performances of all types and classes for children and adults.

311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, 301-2586394, gaithersburgmd.gov/about-us/city-facilities/ arts-barn

Best Medicine Rep

Best Medicine Rep is a theater company that specializes in new comedy. Its performance space is located inside Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg.

701 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg, bestmedicinerep.org

Black Rock Center for the Arts

Black Rock Center for the Arts presents contemporary theatrical performances for audiences of all ages, as well as arts education classes.

12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, 301-528-2260, blackrockcenter.org

Cultural Arts Center-Montgomery College

Opened in 2009, the Cultural Arts Center complex includes a 500-seat theater and concert hall and a 116-seat lecture hall and lab theater space.

7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, 240-567-5301, mcblogs.montgomerycollege.edu/cac/

F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre

The 446-seat F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre is home to Rockville Musical Theatre, Rockville Little Theatre, Rockville Civic Ballet and Victorian Lyric Opera Company.

603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, 240-314-8690, rockvillemd.gov/382/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Theatre

An intimate performance space, the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre is home to the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring, which includes resident companies Lumina Studio Theatre, Flying V, Live Garra Theatre and ArtStream. 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, silverspringblackbox.com

Silver Spring Stage

Silver Spring Stage is a community theater with a mission to present contemporary plays. It produces a season of seven full-length productions plus a one-act festival and a winter holiday show.

10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-593-6036, ssstage.org

Puppet Co. Playhouse

The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents professional puppetry productions ranging from fairytales to classic children’s literature, plus a variety of Tiny Tots performances, all featuring the creations of in-residence puppet masters. The 200-seat theater is located in Glen Echo Park.

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-5380, thepuppetco.org

You can find the curtains rising on shows of all types at area theaters

Ariana Caldwell in Imagination Stage’s Corduroy

Dining

PHOTO BY LINDSEY SMITH

Pizza Guide

A pizza lover's guide to standout local slices

BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE

If there’s one food that’s sure to please a crowd, it’s probably pizza. Simple or fancy, classic or modern, vegetarian or piled with meat, there’s a pie out there to suit almost any taste. Whether you’re new to Montgomery County, or have lived here for years, here’s a guide to where to find some of the area’s favorite and most noteworthy pizzas.

New York-Style Pizza

For real New York-style pizza without the drive up I-95, you can’t get closer than Rockville’s CS New York Pizza. The carryout-only establishment offers classic hand-stretched New York- and Sicilian-style pizzas.

Pie to try: The NY Pizza comes in a 14-inch or 18-inch size. The crust on these pies is thin enough to fold a slice in half, but strong enough to support its layers of sauce, mozzarella cheese and your favorite toppings.

CS New York Pizza, 1020 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301298-3650, csnypizza.wixsite.com/sneaksite

Spicy Pizza

Known for producing piping hot personal pizzas fresh from its oak-fired brick oven, Kensington’s Frankly Pizza is a Bethesda Magazine readers’ favorite.

Pie to try: The Hot Mess—This white pizza—no red sauce on this one—is made with mozzarella, Romano and Gruyere cheeses and topped with pickled jalapeños, caramelized onions and house-made bacon.

Frankly Pizza, 10417 Armory Ave., Kensington, 301832-1065, franklypizza.com

Deep-Dish Pizza

If deep-dish pizza is your thing, Armand’s Pizzeria & Grille is your place. Established in 1975, the restaurant was a pioneer in introducing Chicago-style deep-dish pizza to the local area.

Pie to try: Mac N Cheese—This carby, cheesy creation tops deep-dish crust with penne pasta, mozzarella, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and Italian breadcrumbs.

Armand’s Pizzeria & Grille, 190 Halpine Road, Rockville, 301-231-5000, armandspizzas.com

Crusty Pizza

Bethesda Magazine’s food critic David Hagedorn raved about the unique flavors of the crust at Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana. The Darnestown pizzeria specializes in modern takes on Neapolitan-style pies.

Pie to try: Marinara Rustica—Topped with organic crushed tomatoes, roasted garlic, parmesan and basil, this pizza lets the taste of the soft, puffy crust shine.

Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, 12207 Darnestown Road, Darnestown, 301-963-0115, inferno-pizzeria.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLANTA

The California Pizza at Planta

Vegan Pizza

Bethesda vegan restaurant Planta devotes a full section of its menu to pizza, offering several options— all with completely plant-based toppings. Gluten-free crust is also available.

Pie to try: Hawaiian Pizza—Put aside the debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza. Planta’s Hawaiian Pizza proves that it does with a wild flavor combination that includes barbecue sauce and ranch dressing, cashew cheese, vegan bacon, pickled jalapeños, and, of course, the prickly fruit.

Planta, 4910 Elm St., Bethesda, 301407-2447, plantarestaurants.com/ location/planta-bethesda

Seafood Pizza

Looking for something different than the usual pepperoni or sausage to top your pie? Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza offers clams, shrimp and white anchovies among its lengthy list of possible toppings.

Pie to try: New Haven—It’s the New Haven classic: a white pizza with clams, garlic, oregano, extra virgin olive oil and Pecorino Romano cheese. Feeling extra fishy? Opt for the Long Wharf, a white pizza with clams and shrimp, basil pesto, red onions, garlic and lemon oil. 4940 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C., 202-237-7383, petesapizza.com

Rectangular Pizza

A Maryland original, Ledo Pizza first opened in 1955 in Adelphi, not far from the University of Maryland. The pizzeria, known for its distinctive rectangular-shaped pizza with thin, crispy crust and sweet tomato sauce, now has more than 100 locations across seven states and Washington, D.C.

Pie to try: Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza—Ledo’s classic pie, rectangular-shaped with sweet tomato sauce and smoked provolone cheese—gets a fiery addition of thick-sliced pepperoni and chili pepper-infused spicy honey. Montgomery County locations in Bethesda, Colesville, Damascus, Derwood, Germantown, Montgomery Village, North Potomac, Olney, Rockville, Silver Spring and Wheaton, ledopizza.com

READERS’ CHOICES FOR

Best Food & Drink

Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks for favorite restaurants for 2021 and 2022. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

PIZZA

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Ledo Pizza

Frankly...Pizza!

Pizzeria Da Marco

Mamma Lucia

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings

STEAK

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Medium Rare

Morton’s The Steakhouse

The Capital Grille

SUSHI

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Raku

Kusshi Sushi

Sushiko

Hanaro Sushi

OVERALL RESTAURANT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY/UPPER NW D.C.

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Woodmont Grill

La Ferme

MoCo’s Founding Farmers

Mon Ami Gabi

Raku

Clyde’s

Millie’s

NEW RESTAURANT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY/UPPER NW D.C.

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Spanish Diner

King Street Oyster Bar

Tatte Bakery & Café

Hawkers Asian Street Food

INDIAN RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Kadhai

Passage to India

Bombay Bistro

Commonwealth Indian

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Olazzo

Pines of Rome

Gregorio’s Trattoria

Mamma Lucia

Il Pizzico

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Uncle Julio’s

Guapo’s

Gringos & Mariachis

Villa Maya

Casa Oaxaca

MIDDLE EASTERN/MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Moby Dick House of Kabob Bacchus CAVA

LEBTAV

TACOS

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Fish Taco

Gringos & Mariachis

Taco Bamba

Casa Oaxaca

Uncle Julio’s

THAI RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Sisters Thai

Tara Thai

Kiin Imm Thai

Sala Thai

VEGETARIAN DISHES

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

True Food Kitchen

Yuan Fu Vegetarian

Flower Child

PLNT Burger

St. Veg

Fish Taco

DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT/BAR

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Bark Social

Caddies on Cordell

World of Beer

Java Nation

The Comus Inn

SANDWICH SHOP

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Jetties

Bradley Food & Beverage

Gemelli’s Italian Market

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

LOCALLY OWNED COFFEE SHOP

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Java Nation

Quartermaine Coffee Roasters

Compass Coffee

Black Lion Café

Sunday Morning Bakehouse

Ceremony Coffee Roasters

BRUNCH

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

MoCo’s Founding Farmers

Silver

Medium Rare

Summer House Santa Monica

Tatte Bakery & Café

MOST IMAGINATIVE COCKTAILS

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

MoCo’s Founding Farmers (TIE)

Julii (TIE)

Duck Duck Goose

Hawkers Asian Street Food

Millie’s

Gringos & Mariachis

BAR SCENE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022) Caddies on Cordell

Tommy Joe’s Gringos & Mariachis

Millie’s

King Street Oyster Bar

OUTDOOR DINING

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Millie’s

Old Angler’s Inn

Mon Ami Gabi

Caddies on Cordell

Java Nation

King Street Oyster Bar

Summer House Santa Monica

FOOD TRUCK

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Call Your Mother

Corned Beef King

Hardy’s BBQ

Brisket Root & Flavor

BREWERY

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

7 Locks Brewing

Lone Oak Farm Brewing Co.

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

Denizens Brewing Co.

Silver Branch Brewing Co.

Brookeville Beer Farm

FARMERS MARKET

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Bethesda Central Farm Market

Kensington Farmers Market

Pike Central Farm Market

Norman’s Farm Market

Olney Farmers and Artists Market

BUTCHER SHOP

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Butchers Alley

Chop Shop Butchery

Wagshal’s Market

NEW RESTAURANT (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza

Cubano’s Flower Child

Julii

Sisters Thai

Matchbox - Bethesda

Little Beet Table

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

Casa Oaxaca

RESTAURANT IN BETHESDA

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Raku

Woodmont Grill

Mon Ami Gabi

Olazzo

Barrel and Crow

Duck Duck Goose

RESTAURANT IN CHEVY CHASE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

La Ferme

Lia’s

Clyde’s

The Capital Grille

Sushiko

RESTAURANT IN GAITHERSBURG/NORTH POTOMAC

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Coastal Flats

Il Porto

RESTAURANT IN GARRETT PARK/ KENSINGTON

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Black Market Bistro

Frankly…Pizza!

The Dish & Dram

K Town Bistro

Continental Pizza

RESTAURANT IN NORTH BETHESDA/ ROCKVILLE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Summer House Santa Monica

Seasons 52

CAVA Mezze

Julii

Il Pizzico

Matchbox

Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge

RESTAURANT IN POTOMAC

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

MoCo’s Founding Farmers

Renato’s at River Falls

O’Donnell’s Market

Gregorio’s Trattoria

Hunter’s Bar and Grill

Normandie Farm

RESTAURANT IN SILVER SPRING (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

All Set Restaurant & Bar

Mi Rancho

El Sapo Cuban Social Club

Urban Butcher (temporarily closed)

Parkway Deli & Restaurant

Pacci’s Trattoria & Pasticceria

Cubano’s

RESTAURANT IN UPPER NW D.C.

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Millie’s

Macon Bistro & Larder

Maggiano’s Little Italy

I’m Eddie Cano

Buck’s Fishing & Camping

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Wild Tomato

O’Donnell’s Market

Millie’s

Sal’s Italian Kitchen

Frankly…Pizza!

Gregorio’s Trattoria

SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

La Ferme

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

The Capital Grille

Old Angler’s Inn

MOST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Cafe

Silver Diner

Silver

HAPPY HOUR

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Gringos & Mariachis

Caddies on Cordell

Black’s Bar & Kitchen

RESTAURANT WITH BEST BEER SELECTION

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

World of Beer

Owen’s Ordinary

Mussel Bar & Grille

Yard House

Dog Haus Biergarten

RESTAURANT WITH BEST WINE LIST

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

Mon Ami Gabi

Black’s Bar & Kitchen

LATE-NIGHT EATS

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Silver Diner

Tastee Diner

Dog Haus Biergarten

Caddies on Cordell

Silver

ACAI BOWLS

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Playa Bowls

Henry’s Sweet Retreat

CRABCAKE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

O’Donnell’s Market

The Market at River Falls

Clyde’s

Pescadeli

Bethesda Crab House

DESSERTS (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Henry’s Sweet Retreat

O’Donnell’s Market

The Cheesecake Factory

Georgetown Cupcake

Tout de Sweet Pastry Shop

Praline Bakery & Bistro

SALADS

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Sweetgreen

Chopt

CAVA Mezze

SMALL PLATES

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

CAVA Mezze

Botanero

Guardado’s

GOURMET MARKET

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Balducci’s

The Market at River Falls

Dawson’s Market

Whole Foods Market

Potomac Grocer

Grosvenor Market

ORGANIC MARKET

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

MOM’s Organic Market

Whole Foods Market

Dawson’s Market

PLACE TO BUY FISH (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

O’Donnell’s Market

The Market at River Falls

Pescadeli

PLACE TO BUY BEER (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Rodman’s

Downtown Crown Wine and Beer

Dawson’s Market

Gilly’s Craft Beer & Fine Wine

PLACE TO BUY BREAD

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Fresh Baguette

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Spring Mill Bread Co.

Breads Unlimited

Dining Guide

CHECK OUT THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE DINING GUIDE AT BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

BETHESDA

AJI-NIPPON

6937 Arlington Road, 301-654-0213. A calm oasis on a busy street, where chef Kazuo Honma serves patrons several kinds of sushi, sashimi, noodle soups, teriyaki and more. Try a dinner box, which includes an entree, vegetables, California roll, tempura and rice. L D $$

ALATRI BROS. (EDITORS’ PICK)

4926 Cordell Ave., 301-718-6427, alatribros.com. The folks behind Olazzo and Gringos & Mariachis bought Mia’s Pizzas and revamped it with a new name and decor. They kept the Naples-style pies that come from a wood-burning oven, but added small plates and healthy options. Sit in the cheery dining room with green, gray and white accents or under an umbrella on the patio. ❂ J L D $$

&PIZZA

7614 Old Georgetown Road, 240-800-4783, andpizza.com. Create your own designer pizza from a choice of two crusts (both are vegan and one is also gluten-, soy- and dairy-free), three cheeses (including a vegan option) and five sauces or spreads. Toppings for the thin, crispy crusts range from the usual suspects to Beyond Meat sausage and tater tots. This location of the hip, fast-casual chain has limited seating. L D $

ANTHONY’S COAL FIRED PIZZA

7776 Norfolk Ave., 240-781-6943, acfp.com. A fullservice restaurant in Woodmont Triangle serving coal-fired pizzas and other Italian fare, Anthony’s is part of a Florida-based chain. The corner restaurant includes a large bar area with TVs. Voted “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ L D $

BACCHUS OF LEBANON (EDITORS’ PICK)

7945 Norfolk Ave., 301-657-1722, bacchusoflebanon.com. This friendly and elegant Lebanese staple has a large, sunny patio that beckons lunch and dinner patrons outside when the weather is good to try garlicky hummus, stuffed grape leaves, chicken kabobs, veal chops and dozens of small-plate dishes. ❂ L D $$

THE BARKING DOG

4723 Elm St., 301-654-0022, barkingdogbar.com. A fun place for young adults, with drink specials nearly every night and bar food such as quesadillas and burgers. Karaoke night is held weekly. ❂ L D $

BARREL AND CROW

4867 Cordell Ave., 240-800-3253, barrelandcrow. com. Contemporary regional and Southern cuisine served in a comfortable setting with charcoal gray banquettes and elements of wood and brick. Menu highlights include Maryland crab beignets, shrimp and grits and roasted trout. ❂ R L D $$

BENIHANA

7935 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5391, benihana. com. Experience dinner-as-theater as the chef chops and cooks beef, chicken, vegetables and seafood tableside on the hibachi. This popular national chain serves sushi, too. The kids’ menu includes a California roll and hibachi chicken, steak and shrimp entrees. J L D $$

BETHESDA CRAB HOUSE

4958 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-3382. In the same location since 1961, this casual, family-owned dining spot features jumbo lump crabcakes, oysters on the half shell and jumbo spiced shrimp. Extra large and jumbo-sized crabs available year-round; call ahead to reserve. ❂ L D $$

BETHESDA CURRY KITCHEN

4860 Cordell Ave., 301-656-0062, bethesda currykitchen.com. The restaurant offers lunch buffet and Southern Indian vegan specialties, served in a spare and casual setting. There are plenty of choices from the tandoor oven, as well as vegetarian, seafood and meat curries. L D $$

BGR: THE BURGER JOINT

4827 Fairmont Ave., 301-358-6137, bgrtheburgerjoint.com. The burgers are good and the vibe is great. Protein choices include beef, chicken and Beyond Meat. Pick your own toppings or choose from a handful of selected combos, such as the Wagyu Wellington, with caramelized onions, roasted mushrooms, black truffles, blue cheese and BGR’s mayonnaise-horseradish “mojo” sauce ❂ J L D $

THE BIG GREEK CAFE

4806 Rugby Ave., 301-907-4976, biggreekcafe.com. Owned by the Marmaras brothers, the cafe serves Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita. L D $

BISTRO PROVENCE (EDITORS’ PICK)

4933 Fairmont Ave., 301-656-7373, bistroprovence. org. Chef Yannick Cam brings his formidable experience to a casual French bistro with a lovely courtyard. The Dinner Bistro Fare, served daily from 5 to 6:30 p.m., offers a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert for $35. ❂ R L D $$$

BLACK’S BAR & KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK)

7750 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-5525, blacksbarandkitchen.com. Customers count on the impeccable use of fresh and local ingredients and enjoy dining on the expansive patio. The bar draws crowds for happy hour. ❂ R L D $$$

BRICKSIDE FOOD & DRINK

4866 Cordell Ave., 301-312-6160, brickside bethesda.com. Prohibition-era drinks meet Italian bar bites and entrees. Dishes range from fried pork and waffles to short ribs. Try one of the colorfully named punches, which include Pink Murder Punch and Snow Cone Punch. ❂ R L D $$

Price designations are for a threecourse dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

$ up to $50

$$ $51-$100

$$$ $101-$150

$$$$ $151+

❂ Outdoor Dining

J Children’s Menu

B Breakfast

R Brunch

L Lunch

D Dinner

CADDIES ON CORDELL

4922 Cordell Ave., 301-215-7730, caddieson cordell.com. Twentysomethings gather at this golfthemed spot to enjoy beer and wings specials in a casual, rowdy atmosphere that frequently spills onto the large patio. Voted “Best Bar Scene” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

❂ J R L D $

CASA OAXACA

4905 Fairmont Ave., 240-858-6181, casaoaxacamd. com. The focus is on tacos at this family-owned Mexican restaurant, but you’ll also find fajitas, salads, quesadillas and more on the menu. There’s an indoor bar and an outdoor beer garden.

❂ J L D $$

CAVA

7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 2360 (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-658-2233; 4832 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-1772; cava.com. The guys from CAVA Mezze restaurant have created a Greek version of Chipotle. Choose the meat, dip or spread for a pita, bowl or salad. House-made juices and teas provide a healthful beverage option. ❂ (Bethesda Avenue location) L D $

CHAIA

7237 Woodmont Ave., chaiatacos.com. Plantbased foods star at this fast-casual local chain. The menu includes kale and potato tacos, mushroom enchiladas, a quesadilla with squash blossoms, and sweet potato nachos. J L D $

CHEESY PIZZI

8021 Wisconsin Ave., 240-497-0000, cheesypizzibethesda.com. In addition to the standard offerings of a pizza joint, this spot (formerly Pizza

Tempo under different owners) has sandwiches and boat-shaped Turkish pizza known as pide. L D $

CHEF TONY’S

4926 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-3737, cheftonysbethesda.com. Chef-owner Tony Marciante focuses on Mediterranean fare, offering dishes ranging from fish and seafood to chicken, steak and pasta. Desserts include cannoli, cheesecake and tiramisu J R L D $$

CHERCHER ETHIOPIAN

4921 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-6500, chercherrestaurant.com. The second branch of a D.C. Ethiopian spot, this restaurant and bar took over the space housing Suma. The decor is moderncontemporary and the menu features dishes—from beef to vegan—served on one large platter, meant for sharing, and Ethiopian wine. L D $

CHIKO

7280 Woodmont Ave., 301-968-0053, chikodc.com. The name of this fast-casual outpost of a D.C.-based chain is a combination of Chinese and Korean, and so is its menu. Entrees are priced at $15-$20 and include Orange-ish Chicken and Cumin Lamb Stir Fry. Appetizers include Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls and Wok-Blistered Green Beans. ❂ J D $$

CITY LIGHTS OF CHINA

4953 Bethesda Ave., 301-913-9501, bethesdacitylights.com. Longtime Chinese eatery serves familiar Sichuan and Beijing fare, including six types of dumplings and seven handmade noodle dishes. Red walls and chocolate-colored booths give the place a sharp look. L D $$

THE CORNER SLICE

7901 Norfolk Ave., 301-907-7542, thecornerslice. net. New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as a 20-inch pie. Specialty pizzas include the spinachartichoke white pie with ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan and the Buffalo Chicken Pie with blue cheese and hot sauce. ❂ L D $

CUBANO’S

4907 Cordell Ave., 301-347-7952, cubanosrestaurant.com. Find authentic Cuban cooking with dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef in onions, peppers and garlic) and fried plantains. L D $$

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN

7904 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-4287, bethesda. doghaus.com. This fast-casual California-based chain serves hot dogs, sausages, burgers and chicken sandwiches. The hot dogs are all beef and hormoneand antibiotic-free. The industrial-chic space includes picnic tables, TVs, a bar and more than two dozen beer choices. J L D $

DON POLLO

10321 Westlake Drive, 301-347-6175; donpollogroup.com. Juicy, spiced birds and reasonable prices make this Peruvian chicken eatery a go-to place any night of the week. Family meals that serve four or six people are available. ❂ L D $

DUCK DUCK GOOSE (EDITORS’ PICK)

7929 Norfolk Ave., 301-312-8837, ddgbethesda. com. Thirty-five-seat French brasserie owned by chef

Ashish Alfred. Small plates include steak tartare, and squid ink spaghetti with Manila clams and Fresno chilies. Among the entrees, look for updates of French classics, such as dry-aged duck with Bing cherries, and halibut with scallop mousse and puff pastry. ❂ L D $$

EDITH’S PIZZA

6910 Arlington Road (Bradley Shopping Center), 301686-3224, edithspizzas.com. The owner of Breads Unlimited opened this pizza shop with 20 seats inside and six outside in the same strip mall as his bakery. Appetizers, salads, calzones and pizza by the slice or the pie. For an original take, try the Edith’s Paradise pizza (cheese, onions, pineapple, capicola, spicy honey).

❂ L D $

FISH TACO

7251 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-0010; 10305 Old Georgetown Road (The Shops at Wildwood), 301564-6000, fishtacoonline.com. This counter-service taqueria features a full roster of seafood as well as non-aquatic tacos, plus margaritas and other Mexican specialties. Voted “Best Tacos” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. J L D $

FLOWER CHILD

10205 Old Georgetown Road, 301-664-4971, iamaflowerchild.com. A fast-casual restaurant that’s part of a national chain, Flower Child has an emphasis on vegetarian eating (grain-based bowls, vegetable plates, salads) but also offers protein addons such as chicken, salmon and steak. ❂ L D $

FRANK PEPE PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA

7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-304-7373, pepespizzeria.com.

Part of a chain that serves coal-fired pizzas, Frank Pepe offers a signature pizza with fresh clams, Pecorino Romano cheese, oil, fresh garlic and oregano. Others include the Amanti Della Carne (tomatoes, mozzarella, meatball, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, Pecorino Romano) and one with spinach, mushrooms and gorgonzola. L D $$

GARDEN GRILLE & BAR

7301 Waverly St. (Hilton Garden Inn), 301-654-8111. Aside from a breakfast buffet featuring cooked-toorder omelets, waffles, fruit and more, the restaurant offers an extensive menu, from burgers to pasta dishes. J B D $$

GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA

4611-A Sangamore Road, 301-347-6830, gregoriostrattoria.com. Proprietor Greg Kahn aims to make everyone feel at home at this family-owned restaurant serving a hit parade of traditional Italian favorites, with all the familiar pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood dishes; the gluten-free menu offers pizza, cheese ravioli and quinoa pastas.

❂ J L D $$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK)

4928 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4266, gringosandmariachis.com. The owners of the popular Olazzo Italian restaurant in Bethesda trade in the red sauce for salsa at this hip taqueria with edgy murals and plenty of tequila. Voted “Best Happy Hour” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. L D $

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT

8130 Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-0888, guapos restaurant.com. This outpost of a local chain has everything you’d expect: margaritas and chips galore, as well as a handful of daily specials served in festive Mexican surroundings. Perfect for families and dates.

J R L D $

GUARDADO’S

4918 Del Ray Ave., 301-986-4920, guardados.com. Chef-owner Nicolas Guardado, who trained at Jaleo, opened this hidden gem devoted to Latin-Spanish cooking in 2007 and has developed a following with tapas specialties like shrimp and sausage, stuffed red peppers and paella. J L D $

HANARO SUSHI

7820 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7851, hanarosushi.com. The restaurant’s modern dark woods combined with a light-filled dining room brighten its corner location, and the menu includes sushi and Asian fusion main courses such as pad Thai and galbi (Korean ribs) The bar offers a daily happy hour. ❂ L D $$

HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FOOD

7117 Bethesda Lane, 240-203-8135, eathawkers. com. This Bethesda Row branch of a Florida-based chain features bright decor with neon signs for a fun vibe reminiscent of an Asian street. The menu stars small plates such as baos (buns filled with chicken or pork belly), chicken dumplings, wontons, beef and chicken skewers, wings and coconut shrimp. There are also rice and noodle dishes, and lighter vegetable-based eats, such as green papaya and shrimp salad, edamame and five-spice green beans.

❂ L D $

HOUSE OF FOONG LIN

4613 Willow Lane, 301-656-3427, foonglin.com. The Chinese restaurant features Cantonese, Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, including chef’s recommendations, low-fat choices and lots of traditional noodle dishes.

L D $$

HOUSE OF MILAE

4932 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-1997. The Kang family, who own Milae Cleaners in Bethesda, bring simple Korean dishes to their first food foray. Chef “M&M” Kang prepares home-style fare such as bulgogi, galbi and bibimbap.

J L D $

THE IRISH INN AT GLEN ECHO

6119 Tulane Ave., 301-229-6600, irishinnglenecho. com. This historic tavern has been a family home and a biker bar, but its incarnation as the Irish Inn has been delivering smiles and hearty food since 2003. Regularly features traditional Irish bands, jazz and other live music. ❂ J R L D $$

JETTIES

4829 Fairmont Ave., 301-769-6844, jettiesdc.com. The only suburban location of the popular Nantucketinspired sandwich shop, which has five restaurants in Northwest Washington, D.C. Aside from the signature Nobadeer sandwich (roasted turkey and stuffing with cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on sourdough), look for large salads and an innovative children’s menu. Voted “Best Sandwich Shop” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ J L D $

Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

KADHAI (EDITORS’ PICK)

7905 Norfolk Ave., 301-718-0121, kadhai.com. This popular Indian restaurant formerly known as Haandi serves a variety of traditional chicken, lamb and seafood dishes, plus rice and vegetarian dishes and a selection of breads. An extensive lunch buffet is offered daily. Voted “Best Indian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ L D $$

LA PANETTERIA

4921 Cordell Ave., 301-951-6433, lapanetteria. com. La Panetteria transports diners to a quaint Italian villa with its impeccable service and Old World atmosphere, serving Italian and Argentinian dishes, such as homemade pasta, pizzas and Argentinian meats. There are vegan options on the menu.

L D $$

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN

10217 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-752-8737, lepainquotidien.com. New York-based Belgian-born bakery/restaurant chain with farmhouse vibe, featuring organic breads, European breakfast and dessert pastries, savory egg dishes, soups, Belgian open-faced sandwiches, entree salads, wine and Belgian beer by the bottle.

❂ J B R L D $

LEO & LIV

8120 Wisconsin Ave. (The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton), 301-652-2000, hilton.com/en/ hotels/wasbaup-the-bethesdan-hotel. Set in a hotel, this farm-to-table restaurant serves Mediterranean and American cuisine, from filet mignon and Moroccan lamb shank to butternut squash ravioli.

B R D $$

LUKE’S LOBSTER

7129 Bethesda Lane, 301-718-1005, lukeslobster. com. This upscale carryout features authentic lobster, shrimp and crab rolls; the seafood is shipped directly from Maine. Try the Taste of Maine, which offers all three kinds of rolls, plus two crab claws.

MAKI BAR

6831 Wisconsin Ave. (Shops of Wisconsin), 301907-9888, makibarbethesda.com. This tiny 30-seat Japanese restaurant and sushi bar offers 60-plus kinds of maki rolls, categorized as Classic (tuna roll), Crunch Lover (spicy crunch California roll) and Signature (eel, avocado, tobiko, crab), along with sushi, sashimi, noodle bowls and rice-based entrees.

L D $$

MAMMA LUCIA

4916 Elm St., 301-907-3399, mammalucia restaurants.com. New York-style pizza dripping with cheese and crowd-pleasing red sauce, and favorites like chicken Parmesan and linguini with clams draw the crowds to this local chain. Gluten-free options available. ❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX

7278 Woodmont Ave., 240-465-0500, matchboxrestaurants.com. At this local chain, look for mini-burgers, a “ginormous meatball” appetizer and thin-crust pizza with toppings, including herbroasted chicken, roasted mushrooms, fire-roasted red peppers and Spanish onions. ❂ J R L D $$

MEDIUM RARE

4904 Fairmont Ave., 301-215-8739, mediumrarerestaurant.com. A prix fixe menu that comes with bread, salad, steak and fries is the sole option at this small chain outpost (there’s a Medium Rare in D.C. and one in Virginia). Desserts cost extra. Weekend brunch also features a prix fixe menu.

D $$

MOMO CHICKEN & GRILL

4862 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-483-0801, usmomo.com. Skip the breasts, and head for the wings or drumsticks at Bethesda’s first Korean fried chicken spot. Options such as seafood pancakes, bulgogi and bibimbap are part of the extensive offerings, all served in a hip space with framed record albums gracing the walls. ❂ J L D $$

MON AMI GABI (EDITORS’ PICK)

7239 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-1234, monamigabi. com. Waiters serve bistro classics such as escargot, steak frites and profiteroles in a dark and boisterous spot that doesn’t feel like a chain. Live jazz Thursday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE

7400 Wisconsin Ave., 301-657-2650, mortons.com. An ultra-sophisticated steak house serving pricey, large portions of prime-aged beef and drinks. The restaurant is known for a top-notch dinner experience but also offers lunch and a bar menu.

L D $$$

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S

10400 Old Georgetown Road, 240-316-4555, notyouraveragejoes.com. This Massachusetts-based chain’s moderately priced menu offers burgers, big salads and stone-hearth pizzas, plus entrees including Anything But Average Meatloaf.

❂ J L D $$

OLAZZO (EDITORS’ PICK)

7921 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-9496, olazzo.com. This well-priced, romantic restaurant is the place for couples seeking red-sauce classics at reasonable prices. Founded by brothers Riccardo and Roberto Pietrobono, it was voted “Best Italian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

❂ L D $$

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE

7700 Wisconsin Ave., Store D, 301-986-0285, ophrestaurants.com. Along with the classic flapjacks on this chain’s menu, you’ll find flavor-packed items such as apple pancakes with a cinnamon sugar glaze. And it’s not just pancakes to pick from: The restaurant serves a variety of waffles, crepes, eggs and omelets. J B L $

PASSAGE TO INDIA (EDITORS’ PICK)

4931 Cordell Ave., 301-656-3373, passagetoindia. info. Top-notch, pan-Indian fare by chef-owner Sudhir Seth, with everything from garlic naan to fish curry made to order. ❂ R L D $$

PAUL

4760 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-3285, paul-usa.com. Fifth-generation, family-owned French bakery becomes an international chain, with locations in close to 35 countries. Aside from breads

and pastries, look for soups, sandwiches and quiche. ❂ B L D $

PHO VIET USA

4917 Cordell Ave., 301-652-0834, phovietus.com.

Part of a chainlet of Vietnamese restaurants, this Woodmont Triangle spot serves 10 types of pho, along with rice entrees, cold noodle dishes and banh mi sandwiches. L D $$

PICCOLI PIATTI PIZZERIA

10257 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-858-6099, piccolipiattipizzeria.com. The owner of local chains Fish Taco and Don Pollo opened this full-service Italian concept in the former Oakville Grille spot. Specializing in 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas, the restaurant also sells sandwiches, salads, small plates and pasta dishes. ❂ L D $$

PINES OF ROME

4918 Cordell Ave., 301-657-8775. Longtime Italian restaurant, formerly on Hampden Lane, still serves traditional pasta, pizza, fish and seafood at prices that are easy on the wallet. The white pizza is a hit, and don’t forget the spaghetti and meatballs. L D $

PIZZERIA DA MARCO (EDITORS’ PICK)

8008 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-6083, pizzeriadamarco.net. Authentic Neapolitan pizzas fired in a 900-degree Italian brick oven range from the Siciliana with eggplant confit and black olives to the Solo Carne with sausage, pepperoni and salame. Salads, antipasti and calzones available, too.

❂ L D $

PLANTA

4910 Elm St., 301-407-2447, plantarestaurants. com. Part of a chain, this plant-based fine-dining spot features pasta dishes, salads, pizzas and appetizers. Cauliflower tots come with truffle aioli; the Bianca pizza is topped with rosemary potatoes, kale, olives, capers, hot chili oil, cashew mozzarella and onion. To drink: cold-pressed juices, beer, wine, cider, sake, and cocktails, including a few nonalcoholic options.

❂ R L D $$$

POKE DOJO

7110 Bethesda Lane, 240-696-0990, pokedojo.com. The owners of Bethesda’s Hanaro Sushi opened this poke place at Bethesda Row. The menu includes a handful of signature bowls, or you can build your own from the raw fish, rice and toppings offered. L D $

PRALINE BAKERY & BISTRO

4611 Sangamore Road, 301-229-8180, praline-bakery.com. This sunny restaurant offers a tempting bakery takeout counter, full dining service and a patio. The food, which includes chicken potpie and pralines, is French with an American accent.

❂ J B R L D $$

Q BY PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK)

4500 East West Highway, 240-800-3722, qbypeterchang.com. Notable chef Peter Chang’s highend flagship restaurant offers traditional Chinese dishes in an attractive, modern space. Peking duck, double-cooked pork belly and other authentic Sichuan cuisine are served, and some dishes are “ultimate spicy” for brave palates. Dim sum is available.

❂ J L D $$

RAKU (EDITORS’ PICK)

7240 Woodmont Ave., 301-718-8680, rakuasiandining.com. Voted “Best Sushi” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022 and “Best Restaurant in Bethesda” by readers in 2021, this casual restaurant has bamboo walls that do little to dampen the noise, but the menu satisfies with everything from sushi to kung pao chicken.

❂ L D $$

RICE PADDIES GRILL

4706 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-1862, ricepaddiesgrill.com. This cute copper-and-green eat-in/carryout makes quick work of Vietnamese favorites such as pork, beef and vegetable skewers infused with lemongrass and the classic beef noodle soup known as pho. L D $

ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANT & BREWERY

7900 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1311, rockbottom.com. India Pale Ales and specialty dark brews are among the award-winning beers crafted in-house at this cavernous yet welcoming chain, which offers a vast menu. The burgers are the real deal. ❂ J L D $$

SALA THAI

4828 Cordell Ave., 301-654-4676, salathaidc.com. This Thai mainstay cooks the classics and offers diners a nearly panoramic view of Woodmont Avenue through huge, curved windows. Live jazz Friday and Saturday evenings. L D $$

SAPHIRE CAFÉ

7940 Wisconsin Ave., 301-986-9708. A relaxing spot for tasting everything from Maryland-style crab soup to Argentine skirt steak, Saphire pumps it up a notch on Friday and Saturday nights with drink specials and DJs. Tiki bar open Wednesdays through Saturdays. ❂ L D $

SATSUMA

8003 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1400, satsumajp. com. Bethesda’s first yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant has built-in grills at each table. Diners select a cut—short rib, chuck rib, skirt or tongue— and prepare it themselves. There’s also an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, as well as interesting cooked dishes. L D $$

SEVENTH STATE

7707 Woodmont Ave. (Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ), 301-276-7707, marriott.com/enus/hotels/wasbd-marriott-bethesda-downtown-atmarriott-hq/dining. A half-dozen hearth-oven pizzas top the menu at the Marriott hotel’s ground floor restaurant. Other entree options include catfish, skirt steak, short ribs and a burger. Charred Brussels sprouts and a crab cake are among the shareable plates.

R D $$

SILVER (EDITORS’ PICK)

7150 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-9780, eatatsilver. com. Upscale, tonier version of the homegrown Silver Diner chain, with modern takes on American classics and an emphasis on healthy, local and organic ingredients. Sleek interior takes its cue from the 1920s.

J B R L D $$

SMOKE BBQ BETHESDA

4858 Cordell Ave., 301-656-2011, smokebbq.com. Pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, ribs and all the fixin’s, plus starters including smoked tomato soup and fried pickles served in a friendly, casual space. J L D $

SPANISH DINER

7271 Woodmont Ave., 301-284-3700, spanishdiner. com. José Andrés replaced the Jaleo in downtown Bethesda with this breakfast-all-day (Spanish style) concept. Menu standouts include huevos rotos (over-easy eggs with potatoes); chicken, pork and duck foie gras-stuffed canelones with cheese sauce; and a breakfast ham, egg, cheese and avocado sandwich. For dessert, don’t miss the compressed pineapple with rum, lime and mint Voted “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ L D $$

SWEETGREEN

4831 Bethesda Ave.301-654-7336, sweetgreen. com. The sweetgreen fast-casual chain—with its focus on local and organic ingredients—concentrates on salads (devise your own, or pick from a list) and soups. Look for eco-friendly decor and a healthy sensibility. Voted “Best Salads” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ L D $

TAKO GRILL

4914 Hampden Lane (The Shoppes of Bethesda), 301-652-7030, takogrill.com. Longtime, popular sushi destination relocated to the space formerly occupied by Hinode Japanese Restaurant. Look for the same traditional sushi menu, plus some new options, such as griddle-cooked teppanyaki at lunch, and more varieties of yakitori at dinner. L D $$

TARA THAI

7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-657-0488, tarathai.com. Thai cuisine goes high style With colorful murals of ocean creatures looking on, diners can try dishes ranging from mild to adventurous. L D $$

TASTEE DINER

7731 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-3970, tasteediner. com. For more than 80 years, this crowd-pleasing if slightly sagging spot has served up everything from breakfast to burgers to blue-plate specials such as steak and crabcakes to crowds of loyal customers. Open 24 hours. J B L D $

TERRAIN CAFÉ (EDITORS’ PICK)

7228 Woodmont Ave., 240-345-9492, shopterrain. com/restaurants. Located inside the Anthropologie & Co. at Bethesda Row, this quaint cafe changes its menu with the seasons. Look for cheese boards; salads; toast topped with eggplant, smoked salmon or fig; and entrees such as duck breast and a fried cauliflower sandwich ❂ R L D $$

TIA QUETA

4839 Del Ray Ave., 301-654-4443, tiaqueta.com. This longtime family and happy-hour favorite offers authentic Mexican food such as moles and fish dishes, as well as the usual Tex-Mex options. Drink menu includes American and Mexican beers.

❂ J L D $$

TIKKA MASALA

4929 Elm St., 301-312-8191. Named after the classic curry recipe, Tikka Masala serves its namesake dish with a choice of four proteins— chicken, shrimp, lamb and paneer (cheese). Other classic Indian meat dishes and vegetarian entrees (including chickpea curry and cauliflower vindaloo) are also on the menu. L D $$

TOMMY JOE’S

7940 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-3801, tommy-joes. com.This Bethesda institution is now in the space formerly housing Urban Heights. The second-floor, window-filled corner location suits its sports bar persona, and the vast rooftop is ideal for outdoor drinking and snacking. Fare includes wings (Pohostyle, grilled and smoky, are a good option), burgers, crabcakes and ribs. Chunky brisket chili, on its own or on nachos, is a winner. ❂ L D $$

TRATTORIA SORRENTO (EDITORS’ PICK)

4930 Cordell Ave., 301-718-0344, trattoriasorrento. com. This family-run Italian favorite offers homemade pastas, baked eggplant and fresh fish dishes. Halfprice bottles of wine on Wednesdays. D $$

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK)

7100 Wisconsin Ave., 240-200-1257, truefoodkitchen.com. Health-focused chain prides itself on serving fresh ingredients and features an open kitchen. The eclectic, multicultural menu changes from season to season, and includes sandwiches, salads and pizza. Beer, wine and freshfruit and vegetable cocktails are also available. Voted “Best Restaurant for Vegetarian Dishes” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

❂ R L D $$

UNCLE JULIO’S

4870 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-2981, unclejulios. com. Loud and large, this Tex-Mex eatery packs in families and revelers fueling up on fajitas, tacos and more. Kids love to watch the tortilla machine. Voted “Best Mexican Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022 and “Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant” by readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

VIRRAAJ

FINE INDIAN CUISINE

4914 Cordell Ave., 301-906-8425, virraaj.com. The Indian fusion-style dishes at this Woodmont Triangle restaurant range from vegetarian entrees such as Paneer Makhan Masala (cottage cheese cubes in a tomato cream sauce) and Maa Ki Dal (creamy black lentils) to meat-based dishes like Lamb Vindaloo (with a spicy curry sauce) and Murgh Tikka Masala (boneless grilled chicken sauteed in a creamy tomato sauce)

❂ L D $$

WANG DYNASTY

4929 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1188, wangdynastybethesda.com. A mix of dishes from Shanghai and Taiwan—sweet and sour chicken, crispy shrimp with minced pork, Peking duck, panfried noodles with beef—fill the long menu at this Chinese restaurant in the space that housed Shanghai Village. Weekend dim sum is offered R

L D $$

Key Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

WOODMONT GRILL (EDITORS’ PICK)

7715 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-9755, hillstone.com. Part of the Houston’s chain, the eatery offers such classics as spinach-and-artichoke dip and its famous burgers, but also house-baked breads, more exotic dishes, live jazz and a granite bar. Voted “Restaurant You Missed Most During the Pandemic” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021, and “Best Overall Restaurant” by readers in 2022.

❂ L D $$$

WORLD OF BEER

7200 Wisconsin Ave., 240-389-9317, worldofbeer. com. Craft beer-focused tavern chain offers 50 brews on tap rotating daily and hundreds of bottled options. Food is classic pub fare, including hamburgers, wings and bratwurst sandwiches, as well as flatbreads and salads. Voted “Restaurant With Best Beer Selection” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂ J R L D $

ZAO STAMINA RAMEN

7345 Wisconsin Ave., Unit B, 301-312-8399, zaostaminaramen.com. The menu is concise here— ramen is the star (three of the ramen soups are vegan). You’ll also find a few appetizers, such as gyoza (pork or vegan dumplings) and pork buns.

L D $

CABIN JOHN

FISH TACO

7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0900, fishtacoonline.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J L D $

SAL’S ITALIAN KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK)

7945 MacArthur Blvd., 240-802-2370, salsitaliankitchen.net. Persimmon and Wild Tomato owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore replaced their Asian concept Indigo House with a return to their roots. Find traditional Italian fare, such as bruschetta, risotto balls, Caprese salad, meatball subs, fettuccine Alfredo, chicken cacciatore and shrimp scampi. ❂ L D $$

WILD TOMATO (EDITORS’ PICK)

7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0680, wildtomatorestaurant.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant from Persimmon owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore, serving salads, sandwiches and pizza. Voted “Best Neighborhood Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂ J L D $

CHEVY CHASE

ALFIO’S LA TRATTORIA

4515 Willard Ave., 301-657-9133, alfios.com. This Northern Italian classic on the first floor of The Willoughby of Chevy Chase Condominium has been feeding families and casual diners for more than 30 years. Look for traditional pasta, veal and chicken dishes (plus pizza), served in an Old World environment. J L D $$

Key Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

THE CAPITAL GRILLE

5310 Western Ave., 301-718-7812, thecapitalgrille. com. The upscale steak-house chain, known for its He-Man-sized portions and extensive wine list, is located in The Shops at Wisconsin Place. Entrees also include chicken, lamb chops, salmon and lobster. L D $$$$

CLYDE’S

5441 Wisconsin Ave., 301-951-9600, clydes. com. The popular restaurant features a frequently changing menu of American favorites and a collection of vintage airplanes and cars, as well as a model train running on a track around the ceiling.

❂ J R L D $$

DON POLLO

7007 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0001, donpolloonline.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE HUNTER’S HOUND

5471 Wisconsin Ave., 301-969-8281, thehuntershound.com. With fare the restaurant describes as “modern Irish Americana cuisine,” you’ll find a few Irish classics alongside Grilled Baby Gem Caesar Salad and a mushroom and black bean veggie burger at this dark and cozy spot at the Collection at Chevy Chase. End a meal with sticky toffee pudding. ❂ J R L D $$

LA FERME (EDITORS’ PICK)

7101 Brookville Road, 301-986-5255, lafermerestaurant.com. This charming Provencestyle restaurant serving classic French cuisine is a popular choice for an intimate dinner. Cognac Le Bar at La Ferme, a bar within the restaurant, opened in fall 2016. The bar serves small plates and cocktails. Voted “Best Restaurant in Chevy Chase” and “Best Special Occasion Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

R L D $$$

LIA'S

4435 Willard Ave., 240-223-5427, chefgeoff.com. Owner Geoff Tracy focuses on highquality, low-fuss modern Italian-American fare at this modern space with a wine room. Pizzas, house-made pastas and fresh fish please business lunchers and dinner crowds. ❂ J R L D $

MANOLI CANOLI RESTAURANT

8540 Connecticut Ave., 301-951-1818, manolicanoli. com. Italian and Greek specialties abound at a fun family eatery that features a large prepared foods section, dishes made with olive oil from owner Stavros Manolakos’ family farm in Greece and homemade mozzarella on pizza and subs.

❂ J L D $

MEIWAH RESTAURANT

4457 Willard Ave., 301-652-9882, meiwah restaurant.com. This modern restaurant on the second floor of a Friendship Heights office building offers top-quality Chinese dishes that are hard to beat. There’s also a sushi bar with an extensive menu. A fountain sparkles on the outdoor patio.

❂ L D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB

7023 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-1838, mobyskabob. com. This kabob takeout/eat-in mainstay was one of

the first kabob places in the area. It makes its own pita bread. The menu includes a variety of salads and vegetarian sandwiches and platters. Voted “Best Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

L D $

PERSIMMON (EDITORS’ PICK)

7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, persimmonrestaurant.com. Owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore’s popular restaurant offers casual fare from salads to sandwiches to meat and seafood entrees in a bistro setting featuring a lively bar, cozy booths and bright paintings on the walls.

❂ R L D $$

POTOMAC PIZZA

19 Wisconsin Circle, 301-951-1127, potomac pizza.com. This cheery, casual dining room provides a break from the ultra-posh shopping surrounding it. In addition to pizza, subs and pastas are popular. Beer and wine available ❂ J L D $

SUSHIKO (EDITORS’ PICK)

5455 Wisconsin Ave., 301-961-1644, sushikorestaurants.com. Known as one of the Washington, D.C., area’s most respected sushi restaurants, Sushiko offers a wide range of sushi and other dishes. Kobo, a restaurant within the restaurant, allows eight people to dine on 12- to 15-course tasting menus. ❂ L D $$

TAVIRA

8401 Connecticut Ave., 301-652-8684, tavira restaurant.com. Fish stews and several versions of bacalhau (salted cod) figure prominently on the menu of this intriguing Portuguese restaurant, which manages to be charming and attractive despite its location in an office building basement. L D $$

GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC

&PIZZA

258 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 240-4998447, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ L D $

ASIA NINE

254 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-3309997, asianinemd.com. Pan Asian restaurant with a first location in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter offers dishes from Vietnam, China, Thailand and Japan. Specialties include grilled lamb chops served with mango-soy coulis and miso honey duck breast drizzled with a sake butter sauce.

R L D $$

ATHENS GRILL

9124 Rothbury Drive, 301-975-0757, athensgrill. com. This casual, friendly, family-run restaurant specializes in authentic Greek cooking, using recipes handed down through generations. Specialties such as rotisserie chicken, chargrilled salmon with a lemon dill sauce and lamb kabobs are cooked on a hardwood grill. L D $

BARKING MAD CAFE

239 Spectrum Ave., 240-297-6230, barkingmadcafe. com. Cooking from a wood hearth and selecting vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from its aeroponic (grown in air/mist but without soil) organic garden, Barking Mad Cafe has a corner spot in Watkins Mill Town Center. Look for made-from-scratch brunch, lunch and dinner sweets and savories, such as breakfast pizza, watermelon salad and farro salad.

❂ R L D $$

BGR: THE BURGER JOINT

229 Boardwalk Place (rio), 301-569-7086, bgrtheburgerjoint.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J L D $

BONEFISH GRILL

82 Market St., 240-631-2401, bonefishgrill.com. While fresh fish cooked over a wood fire is the centerpiece of this upscale Florida chain, the steaks, crabcakes and specialty martinis make it a fun option for happy hour and those with hearty appetites.

R L D $$

BREWS & BARRELS BOURBON BAR AND GRILL

625 Center Point Way, 240-912-7736, brewsbarrels. com. With rustic chic decor, this Kentlands spot serves burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, baby back ribs and pan-seared scallops alongside craft beer, whiskies and cocktails. J D $$

BUCA DI BEPPO

122 Kentlands Blvd., 301-947-7346, bucadibeppo. com. The Kentlands outpost of this national chain serves huge, family-style portions of Italian specialties from fresh breads to antipasti and pasta dishes amid a sea of Italian kitsch. Desserts include Italian Creme Cake and tiramisu. J L D $$

CAVA

213 Kentlands Blvd., 301-476-4209, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

CHENNAI HOPPERS

136 Paramount Park Drive (Spectrum Town Center), 240-813-0061, chennaihoppers.com. The South Indian dishes here are made with creative twists, including the Kozhi Lollipop (chicken wings that are battered and fried, then tossed with a sauce, onions and peppers) and Madras Ilai Meen Varuthathu (fish in a red sauce and coconut oil, wrapped in banana leaf and pan seared). ❂ L D $$

CINCO DE MAYO

640 Center Point Way, 240-261-4349, cincodemayorest.com. Part of a small chain, this Kentlands restaurant serves Mexican fare, including quesadillas, tacos, grilled chicken, steak, burritos and fajitas. ❂ L D $$

COAL FIRE

116 Main St., 301-519-2625, coalfireonline.com. Homemade crusts fired by coal and topped with your choice of toppings and three different sauces: classic, spicy and signature, which is slightly sweet with a hint of spice. Salads, sandwiches and pasta also available, plus a full bar. ❂ L D $

COASTAL FLATS

135 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-8698800, greatamericanrestaurants.com. First Maryland locale for Great American Restaurants, a Fairfaxbased chain. Seaside-inspired decor extends to the menu, which offers lobster and shrimp rolls, fried grouper and Key lime pie. Steaks, pasta and burgers also served. Voted “Best Restaurant in Gaithersburg/North Potomac” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

COPPER CANYON GRILL

100 Boardwalk Place (rio), 240-631-0003, ccgrill. com. Large portions of American classics such as salads, ribs and rotisserie chicken prepared with seasonal ingredients at family-friendly prices are the bill of fare at this spacious and casual chain restaurant. J L D $$

DOGFISH HEAD ALEHOUSE

800 W. Diamond Ave., 301-963-4847, dogfishalehouse.com. The first Maryland outpost of the popular Rehoboth Beach brewpub, the restaurant is packed with revelers and families clamoring for the Dogfish Head brews, burgers, pizzas and ribs. Check out the burger of the week. ❂ J L D $$

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN

644 Center Point Way, 240-690-6090, kentlands. doghaus.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

DON POLLO

9083 Gaither Road, 301-990-0981, donpollogroup. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

FIREBIRDS WOOD FIRED GRILL

390 Spectrum Ave., 301-284-1770, gaithersburg. firebirdsrestaurants.com. Part of a chain, this restaurant in the Watkins Mill Town Center cooks steaks and seafood over a wood-fired grill. Designed to look like a Colorado lodge, the eatery tends toward classic fare for entrees (surf-and-turf, salmon, burgers) and dessert (chocolate cake, Key lime pie, carrot cake) ❂ J L D $$

THE GRILLED OYSTER CO.

200 Main St., 301-299-9888, thegrilledoystercompany.com. This Chesapeakestyle seafood eatery relocated from Potomac’s Cabin John Village to the Kentlands in Gaithersburg. You’ll find salads, lobster pasta, a poke bowl, a burger and mussels. The sampler of grilled oysters— with ingredients such as spinach and bourbon— showcases the namesake item. ❂ J D $$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT

9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-17 (rio), 301-977-5655, guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J R L D $

HERSHEY’S RESTAURANT & BAR

17030 Oakmont Ave., 301-948-9893, hersheysatthegrove.com. Fried chicken that tastes

like it was made by an aproned elder is served up in a clapboard building constructed in 1889. Besides the fab fried chicken, Hershey’s serves up warm rolls, inexpensive prices and live music.

❂ J B R L D $$

IL PORTO

245 Muddy Branch Road, 301-590-0735, ilportorestaurant.com. A classic red-sauce menu, elegant murals of Venice and an authentic thincrust pizza are hallmarks of this friendly, unfussy Italian restaurant tucked in the Festival Shopping Center. Fried calamari and the white pizza are among customer favorites ❂ L D $

INFERNO PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA

(EDITORS’ PICK)

12207 Darnestown Road, 301-963-0115, inferno-pizzeria.com. Tony Conte, former executive chef of Washington, D.C.’s Oval Room, goes casual with his first restaurant, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria offering sophisticated toppings such as shaved truffles and garlic confit. Cozy dining room seats 39, with a tiled, wood-burning pizza oven as the centerpiece. D $$

IXTAPALAPA TAQUERIA

411 N. Frederick Ave., 240-702-0217, ixtataqueria. com. The owners of Taco Bar (in a Gaithersburg gas station) serve Mexican street food at this fast-casual spot. Pick a protein to go on corn tortillas, then head

FARM & FOREST CUBS PRESCHOOL ages 3-6

SUMMER CAMP ages 5-12

LEADERSHIP SCHOOL ages 13-17

RIVER SCHOOL kayak/standup paddle for all ages

POTOMAC RIVER SUPPLY paddlesports retail store

CALLEVA TROUGH OUTFITTERS canoe adventures

EQUESTRIAN after school & private lessons

FARM TO TABLE experiences

CALLEVA FARM STORE locally grown products & fresh baked treats

MARKOFF’S HAUNTED FOREST

calleva.org

KeyPrice designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

to the fixings bar. Or try a taco that comes already topped (the alambre with bacon, grilled onions and red peppers and Oaxaca cheese is good). ❂ L D $

KENAKI SUSHI

706 Center Point Way, 240-224-7189, kenakisushi. com. This sushi counter at Kentlands Market Square offers what the owners call a “modern take on traditional sushi.” Experiment with the Black Magic roll, which comes with truffle oil and black sushi rice. Lunch is more informal, but at dinner there’s full service. L D $

LANZHOU HAND PULL NOODLE

3 Grand Corner Ave. (rio), 240-403-7486, handpullnoodle.com. The made-to-order noodles (choose hand-pulled or knife-sliced) at this fastcasual spot are served in soups and stir-fries with beef, chicken, duck and other proteins. Rice dishes, dumplings and pork buns are also available. L D $

THE MELTING POT

9021 Gaither Road, 301-519-3638, themeltingpot. com. There’s nothing like dipping bits of bread, vegetables and apples into a communal pot of hot cheese to get a date or a party started. The Melting Pot chain also offers wine, oil or broth to cook meat tableside and chocolate fondue for dessert. J D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB

105 Market St., 301-978-7770, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOD PIZZA

145 Commerce Square Place, 240-552-9850, modpizza.com. The Bellevue, Washington-based chain offers design-your-own fast-casual pies (hence, Made on Demand, or MOD). Pizzas, cooked at 800 degrees for three minutes, can be topped with a choice of nearly 40 sauces, cheeses, meats, spices and veggies ❂ L D $

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S

245 Kentlands Blvd., 240-477-1040, notyouraveragejoes.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J L D $$

OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE

212 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-9636281, oldtownpourhouse.com. One of the eateries from Chicago’s Bottleneck Management restaurant company, this place features more than 90 local and international brews on tap. Classic American cuisine is served in a setting with copper-inlaid bars and high ceilings. ❂ L D $$

PALADAR LATIN KITCHEN & RUM BAR

203 Crown Park Ave., 301-330-4400, paladarlatinkitchen.com. This Cleveland-based chain covers the spectrum of Latin cuisine, with dishes from Cuba, the Caribbean and Central and South America. From Brazil, there’s feijoada stew; from Cuba, ropa vieja; and from Jamaica, jerk chicken. Bar selections include 50 varieties of rum, 15 tequilas and six types of mojitos. ❂ J R L D $$

QUINCY’S BAR & GRILLE

616 Quince Orchard Road, 301-869-8200

Energetic neighborhood pub with a sports bar atmosphere, Quincy’s also has an extensive menu

with wings, pizza, build-your-own burgers and chicken sandwiches, plus entrees including Guinness-braised brisket. Live music is also a big draw. L D $

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

106 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-9901926, ruthschris.com. A dark and clubby feel makes this elegant chain popular with families as well as the happy-hour crowd. Don’t skip the fresh seafood choices, which include Caribbean lobster tail and barbecued shrimp. Voted “Restaurant You’d Go to When Someone Else is Paying” and “Best Steak” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. D $$$

SILVER DINER

9811 Washingtonian Blvd. (rio), 301-321-3530, silverdiner.com. This branch of the trendy diner includes a full bar and brasserie-style interior. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes

Voted “Best Late-Night Eats” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J B R L D $$

SIN & GRIN

353 Main St., 301-977-5595, singrintacos.com. Located in the heart of Kentlands Market Square, Sin & Grin is a fast-casual restaurant owned and operated by the Hristopoulos family, which also runs Vasili’s Kitchen. Pick from eight tacos, rotisserie chicken and an assortment of Mexican cuisine.

L D $

SOUTH HOUSE GARDEN

317 E. Diamond Ave., 240-912-6395, thesouthhousegarden.com. The garden theme plays out in plants and vines around this stylish restaurant and bar, which has lots of room for grabbing a beer, wine or a cocktail. Appetizers have a Southern slant (fried green tomatoes and jalapeno cornbread skillet). Main courses include tacos, pizzas, sandwiches, crabcakes and several vegan options. You’ll also find billiards and a few arcade games.

❂ J L D $$

TANDOORI NIGHTS

106 Market St., 301-947-4007, tandoorinightsmd. com. The restaurant serves traditional Indian fare ranging from tandoori chicken, marinated in yogurt and spices, to a biryani flavored with saffron, nuts and raisins. ❂ L D $

TED’S BULLETIN

220 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-9900600, tedsbulletin.com. First Maryland location of the modern diner chainlet from the folks at Matchbox Food Group. Boozy milkshakes, homemade pop tarts and the Cinnamon Roll As Big As Ya Head (served weekends only) are among the specialties.

❂ J B R L D $$

TED’S MONTANA GRILL

105 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-3300777, tedsmontanagrill.com. First Maryland location of billionaire and bison rancher Ted Turner’s restaurant chain, which uses bison as the showpiece in a humongous selection of dishes, including burgers, meatloaf, nachos and chili. Soups, salads, American classics and spiked milkshakes also

available at this saloon-style eatery. ❂ J L D $$

THAI TANIUM

657 Center Point Way, 301-990-3699, thaitaniumrestaurant.com. Authentic Thai food laced with lots of chilies and garlic as hot as you like. Try one of the Thai street food dishes, such as roasted pork with Thai herbed sweet sauce and noodle soups. ❂ J L D $

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN

221 Rio Blvd., Suite 221 G (rio), 240-821-6660, truefoodkitchen.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ R L D $$

UNCLE JULIO’S

231 Rio Blvd. (rio), 240-632-2150, unclejulios.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J R L D $$

VASILI'S KITCHEN

705 Center Point Way, 301-977-1011, vasilis kitchen.com. Tan and brown decor lends a cozy vibe to this 4,700-square-foot Kentlands restaurant. The owners ran the popular Vasili’s Mediterranean Grill in another Kentlands location for more than a decade before closing it to focus on Vasili’s Kitchen. The Mediterranean menu is heavy on seafood dishes

❂ J D $$

VINE ALLEY

114 Market St., vinealleykentlands.com. In the Kentlands, this beer and wine shop has a bar and tables for dining in and a menu that focuses on salads, sandwiches and small plates. Wines by the glass and beer on tap are available, and there’s a $5 corking fee if you buy a bottle and drink it on-site.

❂ L D $$

YARD HOUSE

211 Rio Blvd. (rio), 240-683-8790, yardhouse. com. Part of a chain with locations in California, Illinois and Texas, this Gaithersburg spot is big: The 13,000-square-foot restaurant has more than 100 beers on draft, and more than 100 items on its menu, from poke nachos and Nashville hot chicken to Parmesan-crusted pork loin and ginger-crusted salmon. ❂ J L D $$

YOYOGI SUSHI

317 Main St., 301-963-0001. yoyogisushi.wixsite. com/yoyogisushi. A no-nonsense neighborhood sushi place offering the familiar sushi, teriyaki, tempura and green tea or red bean ice cream ❂ L D $

GARRETT PARK

BLACK MARKET BISTRO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4600 Waverly Ave., 301-933-3000, blackmarketrestaurant.com. Sublime American bistro fare served in a restored Victorian building next to railroad tracks; the building once served as a general store and still houses a post office. Entrees range from swordfish to a burger and pizza, including several vegetable options. Voted “Best Restaurant in Garrett Park/Kensington” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

KENSINGTON

THE BIG GREEK CAFE

5268 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-4976, biggreekcafe. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE DISH & DRAM

10301 Kensington Parkway, 301-962-4046, thedishanddram.com. The owners of The Daily Dish in Silver Spring serve comfort food made with local ingredients in a 2,800-square-foot space in Kensington. Steak frites, Maryland crab soup, burgers and house-made desserts are on the menu

J R L D $$

FRANKLY…PIZZA! (EDITORS’ PICK)

10417 Armory Ave., 301-832-1065, franklypizza. com. Owner Frank Linn turns out high-quality pizza in a rustic brick-and-mortar restaurant. The menu offers wood-fired pies topped with home-cured meats and tomato sauce made from an 80-year-old family recipe. Wines and homemade sodas served on tap, too. ❂ L D $

JAVA NATION

10516 Connecticut Ave., 301-327-6580, javanation.com. There’s a brunch menu at this coffee shop tucked into a strip mall. Beer, wine and liquor are served, along with coffee that’s roasted on-site.

Voted “Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. R L $$

K TOWN BISTRO

3784 Howard Ave., 301-933-1211, ktownbistro. com. Try filet mignon, duck breast à l’orange, chicken marsala and other classic continental dishes from this family-run eatery owned by Gonzalo Barba, former longtime captain of the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel. L D $$

KNOWLES STATION WINE & CO.

10414 Detrick Ave., Suite 100; 301-272-9080; knowlesstation.com. Part retail wine shop, part restaurant, part bar, this spot near the intersection of Knowles and Summit avenues features a short menu with meat and cheese plates, appetizers, salads and sandwiches (including grilled chicken, roast pork and crabcake). Find more than a dozen beers on draft and more than two dozen wines by the glass, plus lots of beer and wine to go. ❂ J L D $$

NORTH BETHESDA/ ROCKVILLE

A & J RESTAURANT (EDITORS’ PICK)

1319-C Rockville Pike, 301-251-7878, aj-restaurant. com. Northern dim sum is the specialty at this hardto-find cash-only spot in the Woodmont Station shopping center. Warm-colored walls surround the crowd digging into thousand-layer pancakes and fresh tofu. R L D $

AKIRA RAMEN & IZAKAYA

1800 Rockville Pike, 240-242-3669, akiraramenizakaya.com. This minimalist Japanese

eatery serves house-made noodles and vibrant food such as a poke salad. The sleek establishment, located on the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, features an open kitchen and several variations of ramen to choose from. L D $

AL CARBÓN

200 Park Road, 301-738-0003, alcarbonrestaurant. com. Serving authentic Latin American fare across the street from the Rockville Metro station, this unassuming roadhouse has a loyal following for its arepas, empanadas, tapas and more. Try one of the natural juices including mango and tamarindo.

❂ B L D $

AL HA'ESH

4860 Boiling Brook Parkway (Randolph Hills Shopping Center), 301-231-0839, al-haesh.com. Kosher Israeli grill serves vegetable and protein skewers (including chicken, lamb, beef, chicken livers and sweetbreads). All entrees come with small ramekins of salads (think curried chickpeas; marinated red cabbage; and balsamic marinated mushrooms). ❂ L D $$

AMALFI RISTORANTE ITALIANO

12307 Wilkins Ave., 301-770-7888, amalfirockville. com. A family-run, red-sauce Italian restaurant with specialties including white pizza and lasagna. Lots of antipasti choices, too. The gazebo is a charming spot to dine during the summer. J L D $$

AMINA THAI

5065 Nicholson Lane, 301-770-9509. Pleasant and bright, Amina Thai is run by a husband-and-wife team and bills itself as the first Muslim Thai restaurant in the area, using only halal meats and serving familiar Thai dishes. Chef’s specials include pineapple fried rice and grilled salmon. L D $

&PIZZA

11626 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 240621-7016, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ L D $

BANGKOK GARDEN THAI STREET EATS

891-D Rockville Pike (Wintergreen Plaza), 301-5452848, bkgrockville.com. This fast-casual spot offers Thai classics (drunken noodles, pad Thai, fried rice, and curries served with chicken or pork belly) alongside Thai street fare, such as a mussel omelet.

L D $

BARONESSA ITALIAN RESTAURANT

1302 E. Gude Drive, 301-838-9050, baronessarestaurant.com. Pizzas made in a woodburning oven and more than two dozen Italian entrees star on the menu at this 100-seat stripmall restaurant. Trivia nights and kids pizza-making classes are offered.

J R L D $$

BB.Q CHICKEN

9712 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-0962, bbqchickenrockville.com. This Korean chain uses olive oil for frying its chicken, which you can order as whole, half, wings or boneless. Other Korean and fusion entrees and sides—including kimchi fried rice, calamari and fried dumplings—are on the menu too. There’s also a full bar. L D $

THE BIG GREEK CAFE

4007 Norbeck Road, 301-929-9760; 5268 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-4976, biggreekcafe.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE BLOCK FOODHALL & BAR

967 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), theblockfoodhall.com. This Asian food hall is a sibling of an Annandale, Virginia, spot that helped launch the food hall trend. Find tacos, Korean barbecue, shaved ice cream and more from a half dozen stalls. The center of the space houses a bar with TVs. ❂ L D $

BOB'S SHANGHAI 66

305 N. Washington St., 301-251-6652. Dim sum and rice and noodle dishes are the specialties at this popular eatery offering Taiwanese, Shanghai and Sichuan cuisine. It’s also one of the area’s top destinations for soup dumplings, where you can even watch the chefs making them in a glass-enclosed booth. R L D $

BOMBAY BISTRO

98 W. Montgomery Ave., 301-762-8798, bombaybistro.com. Bombay Bistro opened in 1991 as one of the first Indian restaurants in the area to combine high style, reasonable prices and a fresh take on traditional Indian, and it has been packed ever since. House specialties include tandoori lamb chops and shrimp and scallops masala.

J L D $$

BONCHON CHICKEN

107 Gibbs St., Unit A (Rockville Town Square), 301-637-9079, bonchon.com. International fried chicken franchise with Korean roots serves up wings, drumsticks and strips with soy-garlic or spicy hot garlic sauce, plus other traditional offerings such as bulgogi, bibimbap and scallion seafood pancakes.

L D $

BOTANERO

800 Pleasant Drive, Suite 160, 240-474-5461, botanerorockville.com. Located in the King Farm neighborhood, this small plates restaurant and wine bar features cuisine that changes seasonally. Some recent offerings include a fig and prosciutto flatbread and quinoa grilled salmon. B L D $

CAVA

12037 Rockville Pike (Montrose Crossing), 240-2350627; 28 Upper Rock Circle, 301-200-5530; cava. com. See Bethesda listing ❂ L D $

CAVA MEZZE (EDITORS’ PICK)

9713 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-9090, cavamezze.com. The dark and elegant CAVA Mezze offers small plates of everything from fried Greek cheese, octopus and orzo in cinnamon tomato sauce to crispy pork belly and macaroni and cheese. There are martini specials, too. Voted “Best Small Plates” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂ R L D $$

CHINA BISTRO

755 Hungerford Drive, 301-294-0808. Extensive Chinese menu features many familiar favorites, but this is the place to go for dumplings. With tender dough wrappers and chock-full interiors, these beauties come 12 to an order and with 16 different

KeyPrice designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

filling choices. Fresh, uncooked dumplings are also available for carryout. L D $

CHINA GARDEN

11333 Woodglen Drive, 301-881-2800, chinagardenhg.com. The Cantonese restaurant moved from Rosslyn, Virginia, to the former Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar space. The lunch menu includes dim sum items (they are on a pushcart on weekends). L D $$

CITY PERCH KITCHEN + BAR

11830 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-2312310, cityperch.com. Located above the entrance to the iPic Theaters at Pike & Rose, City Perch offers creative, seasonal American cuisine in a rustic, inviting space. The menu includes raw-bar selections, small plates, shareable salads and entree options such as grilled shrimp and Long Island duck

❂ R L D $$$

CLYDE'S TOWER OAKS LODGE

2 Preserve Parkway, 301-294-0200, clydes.com/ tower. Here is Clyde’s version of a lodge in the mountains. Well-prepared food runs the gamut of American desires, from burgers to fish, plus a raw bar. Check out the twig sculpture spanning the ceiling of The Saranac Room. J R L D $$

COMMONWEALTH INDIAN

11610 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 240833-3055. The owner of two Bollywood Bistro restaurants in Virginia opened this fine-dining spot that serves traditional Indian favorites such as curry chicken and butter chicken, along with fresh-baked bread and Indian salad. The bar has Indian-inspired cocktails and Indian beers and wines.

❂ R L D $$$

COOPER’S HAWK WINERY & RESTAURANT

1403 Research Blvd. (Research Row), 301-5179463, chwinery.com/locations/maryland/rockvillemd. Part of a national chain, this restaurant and winery lists which of its wines to pair with the contemporary American dishes on the sprawling menu (pasta, steak, seafood, burgers, 600-calorie or less dishes). There’s also a tasting room and a retail space. Voted "Restaurant With Best Wine List" by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂ J L D $$$

CSNY PIZZA

1020 Rockville Pike, 301-298-3650, csnypizza. wixsite.com/sneaksite. Carry out a New York-style pizza from this spot by the owners of Pizza CS. Their second Rockville location also offers six seats for guests to dine in, and serves whole pies, hot subs and pizza by the slice. L D $

DOMOISHI

201 E. Middle Lane, 301-666-6685, domoishi.com. This Rockville Town Center restaurant lets diners customize their bowls of ramen, and also sells poke and wings. The eatery shares an address with Pearl Lady, a bubble tea shop. L D $

DON POLLO

2206 Veirs Mill Road, 301-309-1608, donpollogroup. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EAST PEARL RESTAURANT

838-B Rockville Pike, 301-838-8663, eastpearlrestaurant.com. Choose from many options of Hong Kong cuisine, including familiar dishes featuring chicken, beef, poultry, pork and even duck, as well as those for adventurous tastes. Try the soups ranging from egg drop to seafood with bean curd. L D $

EL MARIACHI RESTAURANT

765-D Rockville Pike, 301-738-7177, elmariachirockville.com. Serving Tex-Mex and South American food in a bright, pleasant space made lively with colorful art. In addition to the usual enchiladas, tacos and burritos, look for Peruvian seafood and Cuban beef specialties. L D $

EL MERCAT BAR DE TAPAS

101 Gibbs St., Unit C. (Rockville Town Square), 240403-7436, elmercatbardetapas.com. The shareable dishes at this Spanish restaurant include pan-seared brussels sprouts and pork ribs with a cider glaze. Four types of paella are also on the menu D $$

EL PATIO

5240 Randolph Road, 301-231-9225. This bustling cafe with pretty green umbrellas on the patio serves up the traditional meat-heavy dishes of Argentina, as well as pizzas and freshly made baked goods. Look for mouth-watering empanadas, beef tongue and sausage specialties. ❂ J B L D $

EMA ROSSI PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA

5556 Norbeck Road, 240-669-9900, emarossipizzeria.com. Neapolitan-style pizza, cooked in a wood-burning oven, is the focus of this spot in Rockville’s Rock Creek Village Center. Also look for rigatoni with Bolognese sauce; Wagyu beef and veal meatballs in marinara sauce; deviled eggs with a sauce flavored with anchovies, capers, chives and pickles; and house-made gelato. ❂ L D $

FAR EAST RESTAURANT

5055 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-5552, fareastrockvillemd.com. Owned and operated by the same family since 1974, this classic Chinese restaurant greets customers with two royal stone lions out front and sticks to the familiar ChineseAmerican basics. Check out the daily specials and dim sum menu. L D $$

FARMSOOK

800 King Farm Blvd., 301-258-8829, farmsookthaikitchen.com. A tastefully modern dining room soaked in a soothing yellow light. The usual Thai suspects are on the menu here, but chef’s suggestions include an intriguing broiled fish wrapped in banana leaf and stir-fried duck. L D $$

FINNEGAN’S WAKE IRISH

PUB

100 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3398267, finneganswakerockville.com. Irish pub with a nice selection of bourbons, whiskeys and Irish beers and a very limited bar menu offering such fare as bangers and mash, poutine (french fries, gravy and

cheese curds), a chicken club sandwich, fish and chips, wings and a burger. L D $

FOGO DE CHÃO

11600 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 301841-9200, fogodechao.com. Part of an international chain, the Brazilian steakhouse offers cuts of meat— plus a salad and vegetable station—at all-you-can-eat prices. ❂ R L D $$$

FONTINA GRILLE

801 Pleasant Drive, 301-947-5400, fontinagrille. com. A trendy spot with its curvy maple bar and wood-burning pizza oven, Fontina Grille is a favorite gathering place for the King Farm neighborhood. Pizza, pasta and salads are the main attractions. Three-dollar pasta dishes available on Monday nights and half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays.

❂ J R L D $$

GYROLAND

1701-B3 Rockville Pike, 301-816-7829, gyrolandmd. com. Build-your-own salads, open-face and wrapped sandwiches, and other Greek choices star at this fast-casual spot near Congressional Plaza. For dessert, Gyroland serves loukoumades, a bite-size fluffy Greek doughnut soaked in hot honey syrup.

L D $

GYUZO JAPANESE BBQ

33 Maryland Ave., Suite B (Rockville Town Square), 240-403-7670, gyuzobbq.com. Diners cook up their own meat using a small grill at their table here. The menu includes a variety of rice and noodle dishes, along with beef dishes such as Kalbi boneless short rib, sirloin, ribeye and filet mignon. Pork and poultry dishes include spicy pork belly and duck breast.

L D $$

HARD TIMES CAFÉ

1117 Nelson St., 301-294-9720, hardtimes.com. Good American beer selections, hearty chili styles ranging from Cincinnati (cinnamon and tomato) to Texas (beef and hot peppers), and hefty salads and wings bring families to this Wild West-style saloon for lunch and dinner.

L D $

HINODE JAPANESE RESTAURANT

134 Congressional Lane, 301-816-2190, hinoderestaurant.com. Serving traditional Japanese cuisine since 1992. All-you-can-eat lunch and weekend dinner buffet offers 40 types of sushi, 14 hot foods and a salad bar. Check out the patio with full bar service.

L D $$

IL PIZZICO (EDITORS’ PICK)

15209 Frederick Road, 301-309-0610, ilpizzico.com. Setting aside the strip mall location and lack of pizza (il pizzico means “the pinch” in Italian), chef-owner Enzo Livia’s house-made pasta dishes, gracious service and extensive wine list of mainly Italian wines make even a weeknight meal feel special.

L D $$

IRON AGE

1054 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1474, ironagekoreansteakhouse.com. Part of a small chain of all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurants, this branch opened in 2012. Garlic pork belly, spicy

chicken and beef brisket are among the dozen-plus offerings. There are two menu options (the pricier one includes a few more items, such as steak and octopus). J L D $$

JAVA NATION (EDITORS’ PICK)

11120 Rockville Pike, 301-836-6022, java-nation.com. An offshoot of a coffeeshop in Kensington, this Rockville Pike restaurant in the space that once housed Addie’s serves a full-service menu of fish, oysters and other seafood. There’s a 10-seat bar for beer, wine, liquor—and coffee. Voted “Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ J R L D $$

JINYA RAMEN BAR

910 Prose St. (Pike & Rose), 301-816-3029, jinyaramenbar.com. A 74-seat eatery that’s part of a chain, Jinya serves 12 different types of ramen, ranging from the classic wonton chicken to a creamy vegan option. Try the Jinya Mini Tacos, which come with a choice of salmon poke, pork chashu and kimchee, or spicy tuna. J L D $

JOE’S NOODLE HOUSE

1488-C Rockville Pike, 301-881-5518, joesnoodlehouse.com. Chinese expats and many other customers consider the Sichuan specialties (soft bean curd with spicy sauce and hot beef jerky) among the area’s best examples of gourmet Chinese cooking. L D $

JULII (EDITORS’ PICK)

11915 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-5179090, julii.com. A French Mediterranean bistro from the owners of CAVA, Julii looks like a glass box from the outside and serves fare such as salmon crudo, roasted bone marrow, crispy trout, New York strip au poivre and tableside nitrogen ice cream. Voted “Most Imaginative Cocktails” (tied with another venue) by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. L D $$

KUSSHI SUSHI

11826 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), 240-770-0355, kusshisushi.com. The owners of Hanaro Sushi, a Japanese restaurant in Bethesda, serve up similar sushi offerings here. A boat-shaped platter with 64 to 128 pieces of sushi or sashimi is a fun shareable option. L D $$

KUYA

JA’S LECHON BELLY

5268-H Nicholson Lane, 240-669-4383, kuyajas. com. This fast-casual restaurant that started as a pop-up in the Rockville area specializes in serving lechon, a Filipino pork belly dish. Chef and owner Javier J. Fernandez, a native of the Philippines, shares the flavors of his home country through ricebowls, spiced wings and homemade pastries. L D $

LA BRASA LATIN CUISINE

12401 Parklawn Drive, 301-468-8850, labrasarockville.com. A bold, yellow awning marks the unlikely industrial location of the popular La Brasa. Customers rave about the rotisserie chicken, lomo saltado (Peruvian marinated steak), Salvadoran pupusas and Tres Leches. ❂ L D $

LA CANELA (EDITORS’ PICK)

141-D Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-2511550, lacanelaperu.com. Sophisticated, modern Peruvian cooking shines in a regally furnished dining room in a yellow stucco building graced with curvy black ironwork. The menu includes artfully prepared seafood, pork, chicken and beef dishes. ❂ L D $

LA LIMEÑA GRILL

1093 Rockville Pike, 301-417-4922. An offshoot of nearby La Limeña Restaurant, this Peruvian eatery with a spacious patio serves several traditional seafood dishes, including Ceviche Mixto, an appetizer of lime-marinated tilapia served with glazed potatoes and crispy dried corn kernels. The Chicha Morada, a sweet corn-based drink, pairs nicely with authentic and tender braised-beef entrees. ❂ J L D $$

LAO SZE CHUAN

20 Paseo Drive, 301-968-2096. An outpost of a Szechuan Chinese restaurant based in Chicago, this large and airy restaurant serves an extensive list of dishes, including sweet and sour chicken, Peking duck and jumbo shrimp coated with salted egg.

D $$

LEBANESE TAVERNA CAFÉ

115 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3098681, lebanesetaverna.com. A casual and pleasant family spot for lunch or dinner, the cafe is a more casual offshoot of the local Lebanese Taverna chain, serving hummus, pita, falafel, lamb kabobs, salmon and chicken. ❂ J L D $

LEBTAV

1605 Rockville Pike, 301-468-9086, lebtav. com. LEBTAV has a shorter menu than its fastcasual sibling Lebanese Taverna Café. You’ll find sandwiches, bowls, hummus, falafel, chicken and lamb kabobs. L D $

MAMMA LUCIA

12274-M Rockville Pike, 301-770-4894; 14921-J Shady Grove Road, 301-762-8805; mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX

1699 Rockville Pike, 301-816-0369, matchboxrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing

❂ J R L D $$

MELINA

905 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-818-9090, melinagreek.com. The owners of CAVA opened this fine dining Greek restaurant. The fare includes artisan bread, cured hamachi (yellowtail fish) in a citrus dressing, cod skordalia over pickled beets, and slow-roasted lamb neck. End with Greek doughnuts for two. ❂ D $$$

MISSION BBQ

885 Rockville Pike, 301-444-5574, mission-bbq. com. This outpost of a national chain, known for its support of U.S. military troops and veterans, serves its barbecue—including brisket, ribs and pulled pork—alongside a slew of add-your-own sauces. Come for lunch and stay to recite the national anthem at noon. J L D $

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB

14929-A Shady Grove Road, 301-738-0005, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOD PIZZA

12027 Rockville Pike, 301-287-4284. modpizza. com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing ❂ L D $

MOSAIC CUISINE & CAFÉ

186 Halpine Road, 301-468-0682, mosaiccuisine. com. A diner with a soft European accent. Try the fresh Belgian waffles for breakfast. For those with hefty appetites, the waffle sandwiches are worth the trip, but don’t overlook the homemade soups or light dinner entrees. J B R L D $$

MYKONOS GRILL

121 Congressional Lane, 301-770-5999, mykonosgrill.com. An authentic Greek taverna with whitewashed walls with Mediterranean blue accents on a busy street, Mykonos Grill turns out legs of lamb and fresh seafood expected at any good Greek restaurant. ❂ L D $$

NADA

11886 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-7714040, eatdrinknada.com/n-bethesda. Part of a small national chain, Nada serves street tacos with fillings such as caramelized cauliflower, fried tofu and pork carnitas. The brief menu also includes soups, salads and a fajita plate. Margaritas and seasonal cocktails are available R L D $$

NAGOYA SUSHI

402 King Farm Blvd., Suite 130, 301-990-6778, nagoyasushirockville.com. Cheery yellow walls decorated with shelves of Japanese knickknacks greet customers who come for the large selection of sushi at this unassuming sushi spot in King Farm. L D $$

NIWANO HANA JAPANESE RESTAURANT

887 Rockville Pike, 301-294-0553, niwanohana.com. Clean Asian decor and elegant wooden screens greet diners at this friendly and busy sushi spot located in Wintergreen Plaza. There are the usual sushi rolls, plus creative options such as a Spicy Scallop Roll with mayonnaise and chili peppers, noodle dishes, teriyaki and yakitori. L D $$

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE

12224 Rockville Pike, 301-468-0886, ophrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. This location stays open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. J B L D $

OWEN’S ORDINARY (EDITORS’ PICK)

11820 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), 301-2451226, owensordinarymd.com. This Americanstyle restaurant, barroom and beer garden from Neighborhood Restaurant Group boasts 50 rotating drafts and more than 150 types of bottled beer. The 175-seat restaurant serves salads, burgers, pork, seafood and fondue entrees, and those looking to grab a drink can make the most of the space’s 60seat beer garden. R L D $$

Key

PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK)

20-A Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301838-9188, peterchangarlington.com. Chef Peter Chang’s Sichuan specialties are showcased in an apricot-walled dining space. Garnering a cult-like following over the years, Chang is best known for dishes such as dry-fried eggplant, crispy pork belly and duck in a stone pot. L D $$

PHO 75

771 Hungerford Drive, 301-309-8873. The restaurant is one of the Washington area’s favorite spots for the Vietnamese beef noodle soup known as pho. Soup can be customized with bean sprouts, Thai basil, chilies, lime, and hot and hoisin sauces. Beverages include interesting options such as Iced Salty Pickled Lemon Juice. L D $

PHO HOA BINH

11782 Parklawn Drive, 301-770-5576. This pleasant pho restaurant offers the full gamut of variations on the beef noodle soup, plus about a dozen grilled entrees. The Adventurer’s Choice features “unusual” meats, including tendon, tripe and fatty flank. The Vietnamese iced coffee is divine. L D $

PHO NOM NOM

842 Rockville Pike, 301-610-0232, phonomnom.net. As the name suggests, the specialty is pho, but there are also grilled dishes, noodles and the Vietnamese sandwich known as banh mi. House specials include Vietnamese beef stew and pork and shrimp wontons. L D $

PHOLUSCIOUS VIETNAMESE GRILL

10048 Darnestown Road, 301-762-2226, pholuscious.com. This casual restaurant and bar is home to traditional Vietnamese cooking, with fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil and many herbs and vegetables. The menu features pho, noodle dishes, rice plates and lots of protein dishes. Beverages include bubble tea, smoothies, beer and wine.

L D $$

PIKE KITCHEN

1066 Rockville Pike, 301-603-2279, pikekitchen. com. The 6,200-square-foot, 100-seat Asian food hall at the Edmonston Crossing shopping center includes eateries dishing up Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, pho, poke, ramen, bibimbap and more.❂ L D $

PLAZA OAXACA

141 Gibbs St., #305 (Rockville Town Square), 301968-2136, plaza-oaxaca.com. A full slate of Mexican fare—from enchiladas and fajitas to tamales and carne asada—is served up in a festive atmosphere. Mariachi bands, salsa lessons, and late nights with a DJ are all in the mix ❂ J L D $$

PLNT BURGER

11355 Woodglen Drive (Whole Foods Market), 301984-4880, plntburger.com. This vegan fast-casual eatery within Whole Foods Market serves cooked-toorder plant-based Beyond Meat burgers, fries, and soft-serve dairy-free ice cream J L D $

POTOMAC PIZZA

9709 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-279-2234, potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing.

❂ J L D $

POYOTECA

14921 Fallsgrove Blvd., 240-386-8234, poyoteca. com. Peruvian rotisserie chicken is the signature item here, in quarter, half or whole portions. You’ll also find burritos, a handful of salads, and bowls of rice with chicken and other toppings. J L D $

QUINCY’S SOUTH BAR & GRILLE

11401 Woodglen Drive, 240-669-3270, quincyssouth.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. ❂ L D $

SADAF HALAL RESTAURANT

1327-K Rockville Pike, 301-424-4040. An elegant alternative to the run-of-the-mill kabob places dotting Rockville Pike, Sadaf is pristine, with lace curtains and glass mosaic tiles in front. In addition to kabobs, it offers Persian curries and fish dishes.

❂ J L D $

SAM CAFÉ & MARKET

844 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1600, samcafemarket. com. Fill up on the kitchen’s juicy skewered meats or interesting entrees, including pomegranate molasses stew and marinated grilled salmon, then have a gelato and check out the hookahs. ❂ L D $

SEASONS 52

11414 Rockville Pike, 301-984-5252, seasons52. com. A fresh, seasonal menu featuring items under 475 calories. Choose from flatbreads including Blackened Steak & Blue Cheese and Grilled Garlic Pesto Chicken to entree salads to meat and seafood dishes. Nightly piano music. ❂ L D $$

SHANGHAI TASTE

1121 Nelson St., 301-279-0806. Co-owner and chef Wei Sun, a Shanghai native, specializes in preparing three different flavors of soup dumplings at this small restaurant in a strip mall. The menu also includes traditional Chinese-American dishes, such as General Tso’s chicken and fried rice. L D $

SHEBA RESTAURANT

5071 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-8882, sheba rockville.com. The menu features authentic Ethiopian cuisine with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. House specialties include Dulet Assa, chopped tilapia mixed with onion, garlic and jalapeno and served with a side of homemade cheese. L D $

SICHUAN JIN RIVER

410 Hungerford Drive, 240-403-7351, sichuanjinrivermd.com. Customers find terrific Sichuan cuisine served in a no-frills setting. Take the plunge and try something new with the authentic Chinese menu, including 23 small cold plates.

L D $

SILVER DINER

12276 Rockville Pike, 301-770-2828, silverdiner. com. Customers flock to this trendy diner that still offers tableside jukeboxes. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Voted “Best LateNight Eats” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

J B R L D $

SPORTS & SOCIAL

11800 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 240-7473006, sportsandsocialbethesda.com. Skee-Ball, foosball, basketball, shuffle puck and more than 20 TVs compete with a full food and drink menu at this branch of a national chain. This location’s cocktails include an Orange Crush, a drink well known throughout Maryland made with freshly squeezed orange juice, triple sec, orange vodka and Sprite

❂ J L D $$

THE SPOT

255 N. Washington St., thespotdmv.com. This 6,200-square-foot, 200-seat Asian food hall, not far from Rockville Town Square, includes a handful of vendors, including Mian Pull Noodle (dumplings and noodle dishes), Poki DC (the Hawaiian-inspired raw fish dish called poke) and Alpaca Dessert (shaved snow ice and ice cream-filled waffle cones).

L D $

STANFORD GRILL

2000 Tower Oaks Blvd., 240-582-1000, thestanfordgrill.com. From the Blueridge Restaurant Group, owner of Copper Canyon Grill restaurants, comes this 300-seat American eatery on the ground floor of an office building. Salads, burgers, steaks and seafood, plus sushi, with an eye toward high quality. ❂ R L D $$

STELLA BARRA PIZZERIA

11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-7708609, stellabarra.com. Adjacent to its sister restaurant, Summer House Santa Monica, Stella Barra is an artisan pizzeria with a hip, urban vibe. Look for crisp crusts with chewy centers topped with butternut squash and candied bacon or housemade pork sausage and fennel pollen. Italian wines available. ❂ R D $$

ST. VEG

14929 Shady Grove Road, Unit M (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-605-7511, stveg.com. With its focus on plant-based foods, this vegan fast-casual spot offers gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free options. Fresh local and organic ingredients mean the menu can change, but look for cauliflower bites, tater tots, veggie burgers, and sandwiches packed with vegetables, along with bowls of rice, greens or whole wheat noodles with toppings that range from potatochickpea croquettes and braised tofu to pickled mustard greens and jicama. ❂ L D $

SUMMER HOUSE SANTA MONICA (EDITORS’ PICK)

11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-8812381, summerhousesm.com. An airy, light and stunning space sets the scene for modern American cuisine with a West Coast sensibility. Fare includes salads, sushi, tacos, sandwiches and steak frites. Do not miss the bakery counter. Voted “Best Restaurant in Rockville/North Bethesda” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021, and “Restaurant With Best Decor” by readers in 2020.

❂ J R L D $$

SUPER BOWL NOODLE HOUSE

785 Rockville Pike, 301-738-0086. Look for a large variety of Asian noodle dishes in super-size portions,

Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

plus a wide selection of appetizers. Also, bubble tea and desserts, including Sweet Taro Root Roll and Black Sugar Shaved Ice. ❂ L D $

SUSHI DAMO

36-G Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301340-8010, sushidamo.com. A slice of New York sophistication, this elegant restaurant offers sushi à la carte or omakase, chef’s choice, plus beef and seafood entrees and an impressive sake list.

L D $$

SUSHI HOUSE JAPANESE RESTAURANT

1331-D Rockville Pike, 301-309-0043, sushihouse1331.com. A tiny, plain restaurant serving a large selection of fresh sushi, including sushi and sashimi combinations. Lunch specials for under $7. It’s popular, so be prepared to wait. L D $$

SUSHI OISHII

9706 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-251-1177, sushioishii.com. This charming sushi bar in the Traville Gateway Center offers friendly service and 24 specialty sushi rolls, bento boxes and a few grilled items, including beef, poultry and seafood teriyaki.

L D $$

TACO BAMBA

1627 Rockville Pike (Congressional Plaza), 301-8222334, tacobamba.com. The fast-casual chainlet features around two dozen traditional tacos and craft tacos, including the MoCo Crab (a crab melt with spicy mayo, vinegar slaw and potato sticks) and the Mrs. Hogan (pork, gochujang, kimchi bacon fried rice, cucumbers and radishes). There’s also a cocktail bar with 18 seats. ❂ B L D $

TAIPEI TOKYO

14921-D Shady Grove Road (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-738-8813; 11510-A Rockville Pike, 301881-8388; taipei-tokyo.net. These sister restaurants offer a sizable roster of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. The Fallsgrove Village location is the younger and sleeker of the two, with full sit-down service. The older sister, opened in 1993, is more like a noodle shop/cafeteria. L D $$

TARA THAI

12071 Rockville Pike, 301-231-9899, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TEMARI CAFÉ

1043 Rockville Pike, 301-340-7720. Deep-fried oysters, classic rice balls, ramen noodle soup, sushi and sashimi and comic books to peruse while you await your order set this Japanese restaurant apart from the rest. L D $$

THAI CHEF

29 Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3398045, thaichefdmv.com. The colorful interior of this restaurant features fun and quirky decor, much of it from Thailand. A roster of street foods like what you would find at a Thai night festival includes cucumber salad, catfish dry curry, spicy eggplant, and peppery garlic fried rice with shrimp.

❂ L D $$

THAT’S AMORE

15201 Shady Grove Road, 240-268-0682, thatsamore.com. This local chain focuses on familystyle portions of classic Neapolitan dishes such as lasagna and chicken Parmesan in a more elegant setting than might be expected. Good for groups and large families. J L D $$

TRAPEZARIA

11 N. Washington St., 301-339-8962, thetrapezaria. com. This down-to-earth and hospitable Greek/ Mediterranean restaurant serves top-notch and unfussy small plates and entrees. Choose among a variety of dips, vegetarian mezze, souvlaki, sausages and more-involved fish and lamb dishes. Save room for the baklava. L D $$

URBAN HOT POT

1800 Rockville Pike, 240-669-6710, urbanhotpot. com. On the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, this hot pot spot features a conveyor belt where food travels to diners. A prix fixe all-you-caneat menu allows you to create your meal at your table using one of the stationed iPads. Choose from a selection of noodles, vegetables and meat to add to a bowl of hot stock, then do it again if you’re still hungry. L D $$

VILLA MAYA

5532 Norbeck Road (Rock Creek Village Center), 301-460-1247. Here you’ll find all the traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex favorites from quesadillas to fajitas that are sure to please the whole family.

❂ R L D $$

THE WOODSIDE DELI

4 N. Washington St., 301-444-4478, thewoodsidedeli.com. Though the original location of the venerable Silver Spring eatery and caterer that dished up matzo ball soup from 1947 to 2019 closed, this location is still open. Choose from a wide selection of sandwiches, burgers and entrees. There’s also a pickle bar. ❂ J B R L D $

WORLD OF BEER

196B East Montgomery Ave., 301-340-2915, worldofbeer.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J R L D $

XI’AN GOURMET

316 N. Washington St., 301-875-5144, xian-gourmet.business.site. This casual diner prides itself on its comfort food. Named after an ancient city, Xi’an heavily features Sichuan and Shaanxi cuisines, after the chefs’ regional heritage. Go for the Shaanxi cold steamed noodles or the Shanghai soup dumplings. L D $

YEKTA

1488 Rockville Pike, 301-984-1190, yekta.com. Persian cuisine, including a selection of beef, chicken and lamb kabobs, is served in a beautiful dining room. Try a dessert such as frozen noodle sorbet or saffron ice cream. Check out the adjacent market after polishing off your kabob. L D $$

YUAN FU VEGETARIAN

798 Rockville Pike, 301-762-5937, yuanfuvegetarian. com. From tea-smoked “duck” to kung pao “chicken,” the whole menu is meatless, made from Chinese

CRITTER CORNER

Olde Towne Pet Resort

12230 Wilkins Avenue, North Bethesda, MD 20852

www.otpets.com | 888-475-3580

We have two decades of taking special care of your pet family as if they were one of our own.

vegetable products. There is a large selection of chef’s specials, including Pumpkin Chicken with Mushrooms in a hot pot. L D $

Z&Z MANOUSHE BAKERY

1111 Nelson St. (Woodley Gardens shopping center), 301-296-4178, zandzdc.com. A trio of brothers opened this tiny bakery to sell manoushe—pizzalike Levantine flatbreads with various toppings. Try the Classic with olive oil and za’atar or the Lahm Bi Ajeem with ground beef, tomatoes, sumac onions and lemon. Takeout only with some patio seating, and there’s a park nearby. ❂ L D $

POTOMAC

ATTMAN’S DELICATESSEN

12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-765-3354, attmansdeli.com. The menu at this branch of a landmark Baltimore deli offers the same legendary corned beef, pastrami and other deli specialties. Third-generation owner Marc Attman is at the helm. ❂ B L D $

BROOKLYN’S DELI & CATERING

1089 Seven Locks Road, 301-340-3354, brooklynsdelimd.com. From chopped liver to chicken soup, Brooklyn’s serves all the deli specialties, plus more. Think hot pastrami with coleslaw and Russian dressing on pumpernickel. ❂ J B L D $

CAVA

7991 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301-2005398, cava.com. See Bethesda listing ❂ L D $

COLADA SHOP

7993 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 240332-8870, coladashop.com. Pastelitos, empanadas and tostones are among the Latin food offerings at this D.C.-based, fast-casual, Cuban-style cafe. The menu offers breakfast items, salads, sandwiches, pastries, snacks, coffee drinks, cocktails and desserts (including key lime pie in a screw-top jar). The colorfully decorated space seats 100 inside, and there’s room for another 65 outside ❂ B L D $

GRAND FUSION CUISINE

350 East Fortune Terrace, 301-838-2862, grandfusionpotomac.com. Diners will find something for everyone seeking a taste of the Asian continent, a full sushi bar, and Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean specialties. Chef’s specials include Crispy Eggplant in Spicy Orange Sauce and Double Flavored Shrimp. ❂ L D $

GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA

7745 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301-2966168, gregoriostrattoria.com. See Bethesda listing. J L D $$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK)

12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-339-8855, gringosandmariachis.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ D $

HUNTER’S BAR AND GRILL

10123 River Road, 301-299-9300, huntersbarandgrill.com. At this Potomac institution

and popular English hunt-themed spot, try a big salad or hamburger for lunch and a traditional pasta dish or filet mignon for dinner with the family.

❂ J R L D $$

KING STREET OYSTER BAR

12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-296-6260, kingstreetoysterbar.com. Part of a small local chain, this Park Potomac restaurant replaced Addie’s. There’s a raw bar menu, plus cedar plank salmon, parmesan-crusted trout and crabcakes. ❂ L D $$

LAHINCH TAVERN AND GRILL

7747 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 240499-8922, lahinchtavernandgrill.com. The menu of this sister restaurant to The Irish Inn at Glen Echo commingles Irish standards (traditional sausage roll, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, lamb stew) with fare such as Alaskan halibut. Lahinch is a coastal town in Ireland’s County Clare. J R L D $$$

LOCK 72 KITCHEN & BAR (EDITORS’ PICK)

10128 River Road, 301-299-0481, lock72.com. Well-known chef Robert Wiedmaier’s RW Restaurant Group runs this upscale American pub (formerly called River Falls Tavern). Entrees include panroasted duck breast, crabcake, rockfish and New York strip steak. ❂ R L D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB

9812 Falls Road, 240-660-2626, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOCO’S FOUNDING FARMERS

12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-8783, wearefoundingfarmers.com. Farm-inspired fare in a modern and casual setting; this is the sister restaurant to the phenomenally popular downtown D.C. Founding Farmers. Try the warm cookies for dessert. Voted “Best Restaurant in Potomac” and “Best Brunch” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021, and “Best Brunch,” and “Most Imaginative Cocktails” (tied with another venue) by readers in 2022 ❂ B R L D $$

NORMANDIE FARM

10710 Falls Road, 301-983-8838, popovers.com. This fine-dining French restaurant, which is slated to close in June 2022, strives to preserve its classical heritage while embracing new traditions. Entrees run from seafood to beef and lamb. The restaurant offers quick service, a casual cafe option and a violinist at afternoon tea. ❂ J R L D $$

O’DONNELL’S MARKET

1073 Seven Locks Road, 301-251-6355, odonnellsmarket.com. This market, from the family that ran O’Donnell’s restaurants in Montgomery County for decades, features a 10-seat bar for lunch and happy hour. The menu includes a raw bar, salads and many O’Donnell’s classics, among them a lumpfilled crabcake sandwich, salmon BLT, seafood bisque and crab gumbo. Voted “Best Takeout During the Stay-at-Home Order,” “Best Crabcake” and “Best Place to Buy Fish” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ L $

OLD ANGLER’S INN

10801 MacArthur Blvd., 301-365-2425, oldanglersinn.com. Open since 1860 and known for

its refined American food and beautiful fireplaces and grounds, it features live music on weekends. Signature cocktails include hard cider sangria and a pumpkin pie martini. ❂ R L D $$$

POTOMAC PIZZA

9812 Falls Road, 301-299-7700, potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. J L D $

QUINCY’S

1093 Seven Locks Road, 240-500-3010, quincyspotomac.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. L D $

RENATO’S AT RIVER FALLS

10120 River Road, 301-365-1900, renatosatriverfalls.com. The Italian restaurant offers fish dishes among its menu of pastas and classics such as penne with eggplant, and chicken parmigiana. Traditional Italian desserts include tiramisu, profiteroles, and cannolis. ❂ J L D $$

SISTERS THAI

7995 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301-2994157, sisterscabinjohn.com. The owners of a Thai restaurant and bakery in Virginia serve classic Thai dishes in a setting that mixes several decor styles (one room has a fireplace and looks like a living room filled with books). A dessert counter offers coffee and tea drinks along with ice cream, snow ice and other treats. Voted “Best Thai Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ L D $$

TALLY-HO RESTAURANT

9923 Falls Road, 301-299-6825, tallyhorestaurant. com. A local fixture since 1968, the eatery serves an expansive diner-style menu with Greek and Italian specialties. Choose from options ranging from burgers and deli sandwiches to pizza, calzones and dinner entrees. ❂ J B L D $

SILVER SPRING

ALL SET RESTAURANT & BAR

8630 Fenton St., 301-495-8800, allsetrestaurant. com. American cuisine with a focus on New England specialties. Look for clams, oysters and lobster, plus crabcakes, and beef and vegetarian options. Voted “Best Restaurant in Silver Spring” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

AMINA THAI

8624 Colesville Road, 301-588-3588. See North Bethesda/Rockville listing. L D $

&PIZZA

8455 Fenton St., andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE ANGRY JERK

8223 Georgia Ave., 301-328-0788, theangryjerk. com. The fast-casual restaurant dishes out jerk chicken, fried fish, curry chicken, jerk salmon and other spicy Caribbean eats. You can build your own bowl or tacos, or order entrees and side dishes

L D $

ASTRO LAB BREWING

8216 Georgia Ave., 301-273-9684, astrolabbrewing. com. A menu of about a dozen items—including handheld savory pies, a sausage roll and a hummus platter—are served in the downtown Silver Spring brewery’s taproom. Grab one of the hop-forward beers brewed on-site to sip at the communal tables or on the patio. ❂ J L D $

AZÚCAR RESTAURANT BAR & GRILL

14418 Layhill Road, 301-438-3293, azucarrestaurant.net. The name means sugar, and it fits: The colorful Salvadoran spot is decorated in bright purple and orange with Cubist-style paintings. The pork-stuffed corn pupusas are stars. Also look for more elegant dinners, including fried whole trout.

L D $$

BETE ETHIOPIAN CUISINE

811 Roeder Road, 301-588-2225, beteethiopia. com. Family-run Ethiopian restaurant with a modest dining room but some exemplary cooking. Don’t miss the vegetarian sampler, and in nice weather, opt for eating outside in the lovely, shaded back patio.

❂ J B L D $$

THE BIG GREEK CAFE

8213 Georgia Ave., 301-587-4733, biggreekcafe. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

CAVA

8515 Fenton St., 301-200-8666, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

COPPER CANYON GRILL

928 Ellsworth Drive, 301-589-1330, ccgrill.com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂ J R L D $$

CRISFIELD SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

8012 Georgia Ave., 301-589-1306, crisfieldseafood. com. With its U-shaped counter and kitschy, oysterplate-covered walls, this landmark seafood diner has customers lining up for the Eastern Shore specialties such as oysters and crabmeat-stuffed lobster that it has served since the 1940s. L D $$

CUBANO’S

1201 Fidler Lane, 301-563-4020, cubanos restaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

THE DAILY DISH

8301 Grubb Road, 301-588-6300, thedailydishrestaurant.com. A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food, including bar bites and brunch dishes. Fullservice catering is available, too. ❂ J R L D $$

DENIZENS BREWING CO. (EDITORS’ PICK)

1115 East West Highway, 301-557-9818, denizensbrewingco.com. The bright-orange building houses Montgomery County’s largest brewery, featuring core beers and seasonal offerings, along with drafts from other regional breweries. Menu of snacks, sandwiches and salads includes vegetarian options. There is a large outdoor beer garden and indoor seating overlooking the brewery. ❂ D $

DISTRICT TACO

1310 East West Highway, 240-531-1880, districttaco.com. This branch of a local chain of eateries that grew out of a food truck serves fast-

casual fare, from egg-filled tacos for breakfast to quesadillas, burritos and tacos for later in the day.

❂ J B L D $

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN

933 Ellsworth Drive, 240-450-7000, doghaus.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $

DON POLLO

12345 Georgia Ave., 301-933-9515; 13881 Outlet Drive, 240-560-7376, donpollogroup.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EL AGUILA RESTAURANT

7926 Georgia Ave., 301-587-3000, elaguilarestaurant.com. A cheery bar and generous plates of Tex-Mex favorites such as enchiladas and Salvadoran seafood soup make this eatery popular with families and others looking for a lively night out.

❂ L D $

EL GAVILAN

8805 Flower Ave., 301-587-4197. The walls are bright, the music’s upbeat, the margaritas are fine and the service is friendly. The usual Tex-Mex fare is here, as well as Salvadoran specialties such as tasty cheese- or pork-filled pupusas. J L D $

EL GOLFO

8739 Flower Ave., 301-608-2121, elgolforestaurant. com. Friendly, home-style Latin service is the hallmark, as attested to by the many Salvadorans who stop in for lunch and dinner. Pupusas, soups and beef dishes such as carne asada as well as more adventurous choices can be found in the charming, raspberry-colored dining room. ❂ J R L D $

EL SAPO CUBAN SOCIAL CLUB

(EDITORS’ PICK)

8455 Fenton St., 301-326-1063, elsaporestaurant. com. Cuban specialties are the focus at this restaurant from owner and chef Raynold Mendizábal. Small bites such as empanadas and cod croquettes are on the menu with dishes that Cuba is known for, including the beef entree ropa vieja and puerco asado (roasted pork). L D $$$

FENTON CAFÉ

8311 Fenton St., 301-326-1841, fentoncafesilverspring.com. An out-of-the-way crêperie serving 31 kinds of sweet crêpes and 16 varieties of savory crêpes. Savory versions range from cheese and ham to roasted eggplant with zucchini, bell pepper, sundried tomato, garlic and onion. B L D $

FIRE STATION 1 RESTAURANT & BREWING CO.

8131 Georgia Ave., 301-585-1370, firestation1md. com. A historic firehouse made over as an eatery serves 21st-century pizza, sandwiches, meat, seafood and vegetarian entrees. L D $

GHAR-E-KABAB

944 Wayne Ave., 301-587-4427, gharekabab.com. This spot offers a mix of authentic Indian and Nepali cuisine. From Indian staples such as chicken tikka masala and lamb curry to Nepalese appetizers such as furaula (vegetable fritters) and cho-e-la (marinated duck), there are a variety of South Asian flavors.

J L D $$

ITALIAN KITCHEN

8201 Fenton St., 301-588-7800, italiankitchenmd. com. Casual, attractive pizzeria with bar seating also turns out homemade sandwiches, calzones, salads and pasta dishes. L D $

JEWEL OF INDIA

10151 New Hampshire Ave., 301-408-2200, jewelofindiamd.com. Elegant decor and excellent northern Indian cuisine make this shopping center restaurant a real find Diners will find a good selection of curries, and rice and biryani dishes.

L D $$

KAO THAI

8650 Colesville Road, 301-495-1234, kaothairestaurant.com. This restaurant turns out topnotch curries, noodle dishes and vegetarian options, plus house specialties, such as Siam Salmon with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce and Thai Chili Tilapia. Dishes are cooked medium spicy. ❂ L D $$

KOITÉ GRILL

8626 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 240-8477016, ordering.app/koitegrill/koitegrill. A sisterand-brother chef team helm the kitchen at this Senegalese restaurant. Look for charcoal-grilled lamb dibi, chicken yassa and Senegal’s national dish, thieboudienne, which means “rice with fish.”

L D $$

LA CASITA PUPUSERIA & MARKET

8214 Piney Branch Road, 301-588-6656, lacasitapupusas.com. Homemade pupusas, tamales and other Salvadoran specialties are available, plus a full breakfast menu and a small selection of grocery items. B L D $

LA MALINCHE

8622 Colesville Road, 301-562-8622, lamalinchetapas.com. Diners will find an interesting selection of Spanish and Mexican tapas, plus a full Saturday and Sunday brunch featuring huevos rancheros, variations of tortillas Espanola and more.

R L D $$

LANGANO ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

8305 Georgia Ave., 301-563-6700, langano restaurant.com. Named for the popular Ethiopian vacation spot, Lake Langano, this longtime restaurant offers fine Ethiopian cuisine such as doro wat (spicy chicken stew) and tibs (stewed meat) in a cozy white- and red-accented dining room. Lunch specials on weekdays. L D $

LEBTAV

8535 Fenton St., 301-588-1192, lebtav.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ L D $

LOCAVINO

8519 Fenton St., 301-448-1819, locavino.com. In the space that overlooks Veterans Plaza and that once housed Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe, this wine bar focuses on local wines and beer but includes offerings from other regions. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and flatbreads fill the menu

L D $

Key Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

LUCY ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

8301 Georgia Ave., 301-589-6700. The authentic Ethiopian menu here includes beef and lamb plates, such as kitfo (raw beef) sandwiches and boneless braised yebeg alicha (Ethiopian mild lamb stew). The interior is decorated with Ethiopian-inspired art and features a full bar. L D $

MAMMA LUCIA

1302 East West Highway, 301-562-0693, mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing.

b L D $$

MATCHBOX

919 Ellsworth Drive, 240-247-8969, matchboxrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing.

b  R L D $$

MCGINTY’S PUBLIC HOUSE

911 Ellsworth Drive, 301-587-1270, mcgintyspublic house.com. Traditional Irish pub and restaurant features corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing. b  R L D $$

MELEKET

1907 Seminary Road, 301-755-5768, meleketrestaurant.com. This family-owned, EthiopianItalian restaurant serves classic vegetarian, beef and chicken Ethiopian plates, alongside Italian entrees such as pesto pasta with chicken. For breakfast, try a traditional Ethiopian dish of kinche (a buttery grain porridge) or firfir (bread mixed with vegetables in a red pepper sauce). B L D $

MI RANCHO

8701 Ramsey Ave., 301-588-4872, miranchomd. com. You'll find a boisterous party atmosphere every night at a place where customers can count on standard Tex-Mex fare at good prices. The outdoor patio, strung with colorful lights, is the place to be in nice weather. b L D $

MIX BAR & GRILLE

8241 Georgia Ave., #200, 301-326-1333, mixbargrille.com. Modern American bistro with charcuterie and cheese plates, brick-oven flatbreads, ceviche and other light fare. Look for lots of wines by the glass and beers on tap. b  R L D $$

MOD PIZZA

909 Ellsworth Drive, 240-485-1570, modpizza.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. b L D $

PACCI’S TRATTORIA & PASTICCERIA

6 Old Post Office Road, 301-588-0867, paccistrattoria.com. Diners will find a range of classic Italian dishes, including homemade meatballs and sausage. L D $$

PARKWAY DELI & RESTAURANT

8317 Grubb Road, 301-587-1427, theparkwaydeli. com. Parkway features a bustling back dining room

that makes this popular spot so much more than a deli. Longtime waitresses greet regular customers and kids with hugs during busy weekend breakfasts. All-you-can-eat pickle bar. b B L D $

PHO TAN VINH

8705-A Colesville Road, 301-588-8188, photanvinh. com. A family-owned Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Tan Vinh was opened in 2014 by Tiffany Chu, who sought the traditional food she ate in her youth. She and her chef mother serve classics such as pho and put their own spin on items such as the Tan Vinh special, a “deconstructed” banh mi sandwich. L D $

PLNT BURGER

833 Wayne Ave. (Whole Foods Market), 301-6089373, plntburger.com. See Bethesda listing. b  L D $

PORT-AU-PRINCE AUTHENTIC HAITIAN CUISINE

7912 Georgia Ave., 301-565-2006, paphaitiancuisine.com. The eatery serves a small menu of Haitian fare: five appetizers, five entrees (plus an entree salad) and two desserts. Chicken wings, fritters, whole red snapper, fried turkey and legume casserole are among the highlights. A Sunday brunch buffet draws crowds. R D $$

QUARRY HOUSE TAVERN (EDITORS’ PICK)

8401 Georgia Ave., 301-844-5380, facebook.com/ quarryhouse. Closed for nearly three years after a fire, this basement-level dive bar reopened in its original space. The inside holds the same 1930s-era feel as the original bar, and burgers and Tater Tots are still on the menu. D $

SAMANTHA’S

631 University Blvd. East, 301-445-7300, samanthasrestaurante.com. This white-tablecloth, Latin-Salvadoran spot in an industrial neighborhood is popular because of its welcoming attitude toward families with young children. The steak and fish specialties are good. L D $$

SILVER STRINGS

8630 Colesville Road, 301-587-0596, silverstringsonline.com. Serving classic American food in downtown Silver Spring, this spot features live music in the evenings by mostly jazz, blues and classic rock musicians. b L D $$

THE SOCIETY RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

8229 Georgia Ave., 301-565-8864, societyss. com. A sleek and modern atmosphere catering to a nightlife crowd, Society offers fare with a Caribbean accent. Check out the rooftop seating and daily drink specials, which include $25 beer buckets.

b L D $$

SPICE STREET

8242 Georgia Ave., 301-755-6144, spicestreetmd.

com. In the bottom of the Solaire apartments, this spot serves Indian street food and other dishes. Expect tandoori chicken and shrimp, minced lamb kabobs, scallops in coconut sauce, and a crab and cauliflower entree with mild spices. L D $$

SUSHI JIN NEXT DOOR

8555 Fenton St., 301-608-0990, sushijinnextdoor. com. The eatery is spare, clean and modern, and offers terrific udon noodle soup and impeccable raw fish. Choose from 11 appetizers and seven soups and salads. L D $$

SWEETGREEN

8517 Georgia Ave., 301-244-5402, sweetgreen.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

SWEET SWEET KITCHEN

904 Bonifant St., 301-244-5906. With its roots as a food truck, this spot that focuses on fare from Jamaica and Sierra Leone serves egusi stew, oxtails and other dishes. L D $

TASTEE DINER

8601 Cameron St., 301-589-8171, tasteediner.com. See Bethesda listing. b  B L D $

THAI AT SILVER SPRING

921-E Ellsworth Drive, 301-650-0666, thaiatsilverspring.com. The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for peoplewatching on the street below. A modern and stylish dining room with a hip bar in bold colors and good service add to the appeal. b L D $$

UNDERGROUND PIZZA CO.

8235 Georgia Ave., undergroundpizza.co.

After gaining a following through pop-ups at locations throughout Montgomery County, this Baltimorebased pizza business opened in the former Olazzo space. A few appetizers and salads are offered but it’s the thick-crust Detroit-style pizzas—more than 30 varieties, 10 of which are vegan—that headline here. L D $$

VEGETABLE GARDEN

3830 International Drive (Leisure World Plaza), 301598-6868, vegetablegarden.co. The popular vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic Asian restaurant features a wide variety of eggplant and asparagus dishes, plus vegetarian “beef,” and “chicken” dishes often made with soy and wheat gluten. L D $$

VICINO RISTORANTE ITALIANO

959 Sligo Ave., 301-588-3372, vicinoitaliano.com. A favorite neighborhood red-sauce joint that hasn’t changed in decades, Vicino features some fine seafood choices in addition to classic pasta dishes. Families are welcome. b L D $$ n

Kids

WHEN THE BASEMENT PLAYROOM isn’t cutting it, or you just need to get out of the house, there are tons of options ranging from playgrounds to classes for hours of fun.

PHOTO BY MARILYN STONE

Eye Spy Trains at Cabin John Regional Park

Play Ball

On any given weekend, the playing fields, rec centers and ice rinks of Montgomery County are filled with children, from preschoolers to teens. Their parents are there, too, toting spectator chairs, sunblock and extra water bottles. Here is a sampling of area sports organizations and leagues:

BASEBALL

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Baseball

301-229-2724, bccbaseball.com

City of Gaithersburg Recreation Department 301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports

Koa Sports

301-229-7529, koasports.org/programs/baseball

Montgomery County Little League mclittleleague.org

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

301-570-3990, obgc.com/baseball

Rockville Baseball Association of Montgomery County rbba.org

BASKETBALL

City of Gaithersburg Recreation Department 301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports

City of Rockville Recreation Department 240-314-8620, rockvillemd.gov

Koa Sports

301-229-7529, koasports.org/basketball

Montgomery County Recreation Department 240-777-6840, montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/thingstodo/sports

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

301-570-3990, obgc.com/basketball

FOOTBALL

Germantown Football Association leaguelineup.com/sgfa

Maplewood Athletic Association leaguelineup.com/welcome. asp?url=hailmaplewood

Montgomery Village Sports Association mvsa.org/sports-we-offer/football

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association 301-570-3990, obgc.com/football

Rockville Football League rfl.cc

Silver Spring Saints silverspringsaints.website.siplay.com

HOCKEY

Montgomery Youth Hockey Association info@myha.org myha.org

LACROSSE

Bethesda Lacrosse bethesdalacrosse.org

Montgomery Village Sports Association mvsa.org/sports-we-offer/lacrosse

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

301-570-3990, obgc.com/lacrosse

Potomac Power potomacpowerlax.usl.la

SOCCER

Bethesda Soccer Club

240-224-7363, bethesdasoccer.org

City of Gaithersburg

Recreation Department

301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports

Montgomery Soccer Inc. (MSI)

301-762-4674, msisoccer.org

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

301-570-3990, obgc.com/soccer

Soccer Association of Montgomery

301-528-1480, samsoccer.org

SOFTBALL

City of Gaithersburg

Recreation Department

301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports

Montgomery Village Sports Association mvsa.org/sports-we-offer/softball

Olney Boys and Girls Club

Community Sports Association obgc.com/obgc-house-softball

VOLLEYBALL

City of Gaithersburg

Recreation Department

301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports

Montgomery Village Sports Association mvsavbc.org

The Acting Bug

Imagination Stage

Nationally known, Imagination Stage is a multidisciplinary theater arts organization for young people that offers professional shows, after-school programs and summer camps for children ages 3-18. The mission of Imagination Stage is to inspire creativity through theater and arts education programs that nurture, challenge and empower young people of all abilities. Imagination Stage reaches 110,000 children and families annually.

4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, 301-961-6060, imaginationstage.org

Adventure Theatre MTC and the ATMTC Academy

Adventure Theatre (founded in 1951) and Musical Theater Center (founded in 1986) merged to form the Adventure Theatre Musical Theater Center in 2012. The center reaches approxi-

mately 75,000 children, parents and teachers annually with award-winning stage adaptations of popular children’s literature, as well as classes, workshops, camps, student productions and a pre-professional program. Serving student actors of all skill levels and families from diverse communities, ATMTC aims to develop new generations of artists and inspire a lifelong love of theater. The theater in Glen Echo Park accommodates approximately 165 patrons with general seating.

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270; 837-D Rockville Pike (Wintergreen Plaza), Rockville, 301-251-5766, adventuretheatre-mtc.org

The Puppet Co. Playhouse at Glen Echo Park

Using hand puppets, rod puppets, marionettes, masks and costumed figures to stage both

original stories and children’s classics, the Puppet Co. has been delighting its audiences since 1983. According to the Glen Echo Park website, The Puppet Co. Playhouse is “the only year-round theater between New York and Atlanta dedicated entirely to the art of puppetry.” Main Stage performances each have their own general age recommendation. Most are recommended for ages 3½ and older, although some are for 5 and older, depending on the length of the show (usually 45 minutes), amount and sophistication of dialogue, conflict level and perception of the villain, according to the theater’s website. Tiny Tots performances are designed for children ages 2 to 4.

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-5380, thepuppetco.org

Whether your child is a first-time theatergoer or an aspiring actor, these theaters provide performances and programs that capture the imagination

BY MAURA MAHONEY

Get Creative

Nine great places for budding artists or dancers

BY REBECCA GALE

Young artists can learn a variety of skills during summer camps offered by VisArts.

Artworks Fine Art Studio

When Whitman High School graduate Erin Johnson returned home after studying visual arts at Brown University, she recognized a need for art education in the area. In 2003, Johnson opened Artworks, which offers art classes for ages 3 and older, in a historic home in downtown Bethesda. Teachers are trained in-house, and the focus is on classical drawing and painting, though the weeklong summer camps cover a variety of media, including clay and sculpture. Birthday parties also are available.

7740 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-656-0044; 10020 Falls Road, Potomac, 301-238-3351 artworksclasses.com

Maryland Youth Ballet

This classical ballet studio in downtown Silver Spring offers dance classes for young people ages 2 to 20, as well as adults. Classes for younger children fill up quickly. The MYB Studio Company for young dancers between the ages of 15 and 20 helps bridge the gap between being a student and a professional. Dancers

PHOTO BY VISARTS

must audition or be invited to join. Adult drop-in classes include Intro to Ballet, Floor Barre and Broadway Jazz; summer programs also are offered. 926 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, 301-608-2232,marylandyouthballet.org

Ballet Petite

Ballet Petite has offered creative ballet training for young children for two decades. Founder Nancy Parenti developed “storydance” to allow kids ages 18 months to 6 years old to use their imagination while learning how to move. The studio also offers two performance companies and the Youth Performing Arts School. Hip-hop, lyrical, modern and adult dance classes are available, as well as camps and parties for kids.

Little House at Westmoreland Hills Park, 5315 Elliott Road, Bethesda; Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda; 301-232-3192, balletpetite.com

CREATE Arts Center

CREATE Arts Center’s mission is to bring art education and art therapy to the region while supporting underprivileged populations and those with special needs. CREATE offers art classes and parties for kids ages 2 to 16, off-site courses for at-risk youth, and art therapy for mentally ill adults and children. In addition to spring, summer and winter camp programs for kids ages 6 to 14, the center runs “No School Day” camps for students during scheduled school closings. 914 Silver Spring Ave., Silver Spring, 301-588-2787, createartscenter.org

Montgomery County Recreation

Montgomery County’s recreation department offers dozens of art classes for all ages, including painting, drawing, pottery and crafts. Classes take place in community recreation centers throughout the county, though some are offered at public schools and private art studios. Teachers are professional instructors who have a degree in their art specialty or extensive experience as an artist. Programming guides can be picked up at Montgomery County recreation facilities and public libraries, or viewed online. Administrative office: 2425 Reedie Drive, 10th Floor, Wheaton, 240-777-6840, montgomerycountymd.gov/rec

KID Museum

This innovative space provides hands-on learning that incorporates STEM, art and culture with creative and critical thinking skills. It also offers day and summer camps and monthly Cultural Days, which feature activities focused on a specific country. In 2022 the museum opened a new 28,000-square-foot facility at Bethesda Metro Center.

3 Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, 301-8975437, kid-museum.org

VisArts

This nonprofit arts center, established in 1987, offers a variety of classes for adults and children, grades K-12, including ceramics, glass, painting and drawing, woodworking, mixed media, fiber, photography and jewelry. The Studio Artist

Program attracts local, regional and international artists, who may teach classes. The summer camp features creative artistry programs such as woodworking, ceramics, mixed media, glass, painting and drawing and more. Classes also are offered for special-needs students.

155 Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-315-8200, visartscenter.org

Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance

The Culken School provides a series of Irish dancing programs for children and adults. Students have the choice of a yearlong commitment or an introductory eight- to 10-week program. The figures program gives students the opportunity to dance in teams and compete locally, regionally and internationally.

Rockville United Methodist Church, 112 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville; Glen Echo/Annex, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo Park; 301-5939600, www.culkinschool.com

Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo Park offers classes and camps in visual arts, dance, and music for children, teens and adults. Classes are offered in fused glass, dance, drawing and painting, arts and media, glassblowing, music, photography, pottery, puppetry, sculpture and stone carving, and silversmithing.

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2222, glenechopark.org

Our Parks

FROM GREAT FALLS TO Sugarloaf Mountain, the region’s parks, lakes, public gardens and miles of trails offer hundreds of reasons to explore the great outdoors.

BY MARGARET ENGEL

Wheaton Regional Park is the home of Brookside Gardens, a 50-acre display garden that includes an indoor conservatory.

PHOTO BY DAVE GREBOWSKY

Paddle Out

Kayakers have plenty of areas to explore on 505acre Little Seneca Lake in Boyds. Single- and two-person kayaks are available to rent if you don’t bring your own. Kayakers like the twohour-long Black Hill Water Trail, which you can follow on laminated maps that are available at the park’s boathouse. Paddlers will see a busy osprey platform; the lake’s dam; a popular perch for bald eagles; a beaver lodge; and a forest of trees left standing when the stream valley was flooded. It’s $15 an hour or $55 a day to rent a kayak, paddle and life preserver on weekends and holidays. On weekdays it’s $14; $50 for a full day’s rental.

Black Hill Regional Park, 20930 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds; montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/black-hillregional-park/black-hill-boats-little-seneca-lake

Hike the Rachel Carson Trail

The peaceful 3.6-mile Rachel Carson Greenway Trail, located within the 650-acre Rachel Carson Conservation Park, is a little-used trail along the scenic Hawlings River. Hikers see old-growth forest, stunning rock outcroppings, and showy displays of wildflowers in meadows. The trail loops into five shorter trails that are good for quick hikes. The park encompasses the habitat our famous county native studied when researching her landmark 1962 book, Silent Spring, which warned of the environmental danger of pesticides.The paths are well marked, but as a conservation park, there are no bathrooms or water spigots. There is free parking at the trailhead at Sundown and Zion roads in Brookeville. The Rachel Carson Greenway includes 25 miles of other trails in Colesville, Wheaton, Silver Spring and Potomac.

Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 22201 Zion Road, Brookeville; montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ rachel-carson-conservation-park/rachel-carsonconservation-park-trails

PHOTO BY RAY LOTIER

Little Seneca Lake in Boyds

Picnic Time

There are three separate picnic areas—with plenty of parking—at the Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park in Clarksburg. Its picnic pavilions are relatively isolated and surrounded by large shade trees, log fences and meadows. Traffic, noise and sprawl are far away from this leafy, rural enclave. The handicapped-accessible park has wooden picnic tables under shelters that can host 75 to 100 people, and each shelter features a large grill.

Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park, 12001 Skylark Drive, Clarksburg; montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ovid-hazen-wells-recreational-park

Pitch a Tent

Surprise! There’s year-round overnight camping less than a mile from Montgomery mall. It’s primitive, but it’s still a night in nature. Each of the seven campsites in Cabin John Regional Park includes two tent pads (bring your own tents), a fire pit, a grill and picnic tables. (Parents have hosted sleepovers here for their kids’ birthday parties.) Bathroom facilities are portable toilets in the parking lot; there’s a pavilion for group gatherings. You might hear a faint sound of traffic from Tuckerman Lane and Seven Locks Road, so choose an upper number campsite for deeper woods. Campsites are $20 per night; reservations are required. There’s no running water during the off-season (Nov. 1 to March 31) but you’re roughing it in woods that are within walking distance of a shopping center.

Robert C. McDonell Campground, Cabin John Regional Park, 7701 Tuckerman Lane, Rockville; reservations through 301-495-2525 or parkpermits@montgomeryparks.org; montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ cabin-john-regional-park/campground

Top Trail

Go Fish

It’s catch and release, and you’ll need your own rods and flies, but you can cast for trout on both sides of the Patuxent River in Brookeville. Look for red posts about 400 yards below Brighton Dam in Brookeville, which spans the Montgomery and Howard county lines. Trout are stocked in February from the state hatchery in Hagerstown and are spaced along 13 miles of the upper Patuxent River. (The season begins March 31 and the river is last stocked for the season in October.) The area is rarely crowded, but deep holes can create unsteady river walking, so it’s safest not to fish alone. A $5 Maryland resident fishing license is required for those 16 and older and can be purchased by phone at 855-855-3906. Bring a rag and pliers to help unhook your fish; most of the rainbow and brown trout are 1 to 2 pounds, but “leftovers” from previous years can be in the 4- to 9-pound range.

Patuxent River State Park, 23222 Georgia Ave., Brookeville; 301-924-2127; dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries

The 15-mile Schaeffer Farm Trail in Boyds is one of the best offroad biking routes in the country, according to the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The two-way bike trail has well-marked colored loops, and riders should know there are some blind corners and narrow sections. The longest trail, marked orange and rated “moderate” in difficulty, features rolling terrain with many dips and a mix of scenery—bikers pass high grasses, soybean and corn fields, and ride through deep woods. There’s an experts-only section with 10 earthen speed bumps in the southeast section of the loop trails. The trails are maintained by the county and the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) group, which organizes group rides at the park.

Schaeffer Farm Trail, 14800 Schaeffer Road, Boyds; more-mtb. org/products/schaeffer-arms

PARKS at a Glance

How many parks

421 county parks encompassing 37,100 acres; three state parks— Matthew Henson Park in Silver Spring, Patuxent River State Park in Brookeville and Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg— occupy another 13,100 acres.

Largest county park

Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg, with 3,700 acres, 91 campsites, an 18hole golf course, 25 miles of trails and 14 historic sites.

Smallest county park

The three-tenths of an acre Acorn Urban Park, with an acorn-shaped gazebo, in the Silver Spring Central Business District off East West Highway at Newell Street. The oversize acorn was built in the mid-1800s at the direction of journalist and presidential adviser Francis Preston Blair, where it marked the spring he encountered that gave Silver Spring its name.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Nirvana for Gardeners

Tucked into a residential neighborhood across from The Woods Academy in Bethesda is a 1939 stone manor house surrounded by 5 lush acres of shade gardens, annuals, perennials and more than 750 varieties of azaleas. Named

McCrillis Gardens after its donors, former owners William and Virginia McCrillis, the site is managed by Brookside Gardens and can be rented for weddings and other events. The garden’s rare shrubs, trees and flowers were acquired by William McCrillis, who served as assistant to Harold Ickes, the secretary of the interior from 1933 to 1946. McCrillis became friends with the chief horticulturist for

Frisbee Fling

the National Park Service, who helped him acquire trees and plants globally. Of the 4,000 plants, a majority are rhododendrons and azaleas. William McCrillis labeled every plant; maps are available on-site.

McCrillis Gardens, 6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda; montgomeryparks.org/parks-andtrails/mccrillis-house-gardens

A sport that attracts all ages, from Frisbee-throwing college players to families and seniors, disc golf is played by tossing plastic discs into wire baskets. The Cedar Farm Disc Golf Club, a private group for enthusiasts, helps maintain the 27 holes that make up the three different nine-hole courses at Seneca Creek State Park. The park’s courses are ranked among the best in the mid-Atlantic region by the Professional Disc Golf Association of Appling, Georgia, and play host to several pro tournaments throughout the year. Players can purchase new or used golf discs in the park office. The course is free, but the park has an admission charge on weekends and holidays from April through October: $3 for Marylanders and $5 for out-of-staters. Veterans, active-duty military and children young enough for car seats are not charged.

Seneca Creek State Park, 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg; 301-924-2127; dnr. maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/seneca.aspx

PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

Spend the Night in a Yurt

You can pretend you’re in Outer Mongolia when you sleep in a yurt at Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg—nomads use these round wooden structures in the steppes of Central Asia. There are 91 campsites in the woods at the county’s largest campground, and three of them have yurts. Each yurt can sleep six, with a double bed futon and two full-size bunk beds, plus an outdoor grill and a picnic table. (Bring your own linens.) There’s a nearby bathhouse with showers and

restrooms, plus community water spigots. Reservations can be made online up to a year in advance; park rangers suggest booking at least a month ahead of time during the summer. If the yurts are booked but you’re looking for something lowmaintenance, Little Bennett offers camperready sites that come with a four-person tent, camp chairs, a propane stove and a lantern.

Little Bennett Regional Park, 23705 Frederick Road, Clarksburg; 301-528-3430; montgomeryparks.org/ parks-and-trails/little-bennett-regional-park/ little-bennett-camping/camping-options

Resident Raptors

Meadowside Nature Center is under renovation, but when it reopens in late 2022, visitors can gawk at bald eagles and hawks in aviaries that focus on the large birds that call our county home. The center will offer free raptor programs and host frequent festivals with naturalists describing avian habitats. Along with new displays inside the center, a new outdoor children’s play space is under construction. During the renovations, you can still hike 8 miles of nature trails.

Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville; 301-258-4030; montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/rockcreek-regional-park/meadowside-naturecenter

A Bumpy Ride

A continuous loop of rolling bumps and banked corners attracts mountain and BMX (bicycle motocross) bikers to this 6.3-mile dirt and hard-surface “pump” track in Boyds. These off-road tracks are designed to help riders gain momentum on each downslope. Located along Hoyles Mill Trail, bikers can park at the model boat area lot or at Schaeffer Farm. The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), a nonprofit organization, helped plan the free course with the county parks department. It’s for beginners to advanced riders.

South Germantown Recreational Park, 18045 Central Park Circle, Boyds; montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ south-germantown-recreational-park

Splash Around

With a 280-jet water maze, cartoon animals that spray water, a large plastic water-filled jumping pillow and a waterfall cave, the South Germantown splash park ($5.50 per person ages 2 and up) is a hot spot for kids in the summer. And you can also throw parties there. The smallest rental tents accommodate 35 people, and the $200 charge includes admission for up to 20. Group reservations should be made at least a week in advance. It’s possible to rent the entire splash park from 6 to 8 p.m. and play the adjacent miniature golf course, too.

South Germantown Recreational Park, 18056 Central Park Circle, Boyds; 301-670-4685; montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/southgermantown-recreational-park

Plant a Garden

Join one of the 12 community gardens run by the county park system and grow your own vegetables, herbs and flowers. The county offers sites that hold between 10 and 118 plots; sizes range from 200 to 625 square feet. The plots rent for $45 to $85 a year; sign-ups begin in February. Water and deer fencing are included, and organic practices are encouraged. Aggressive plants like mint and lemon balm must be grown in above-ground containers. Gardeners join a listserv with their fellow renters to discuss cultivation issues.

montgomeryparks.org/communitygardens

Water features

Largest county lake

$130.9 million in fiscal year 2021. The bulk of this money goes toward labor, maintenance and equipment costs.

County parks contain four lakes and 490 miles of streams. You’ll need a Maryland fishing license if you’re 16 and older and want to fish.

The 505-acre Little Seneca Lake in Boyds, with its selfguided Black Hill Water Trail for boaters. There are kayaks, rowboats, canoes and paddleboats for rent, and the Kingfisher pontoon boat offers 45-minute tours for $5 on weekends. You can fish off a pier for bass and bluegill.

What the county spends on parks

Playtime

The Greenbriar Local Park in Travilah, which opened in 2016, features a Chesapeake Bay-themed playground designed for kids 2 to 5, along with a Cap’n Crabby fishing boat, riding toys shaped like fish, and the Piedmont Play Fort with curly slides for older kids. The soft rubber ground cover is painted blue to resemble water and features a beige sand dune,

driftwood bench and crab pot steps. There’s a shaded open-air pavilion between the two play yards with tables for parents and kids. This 25-acre native grass and wildflower park is themed “The Journey of a Raindrop,” so visitors can learn about Maryland geography, watersheds and the wildlife of the Chesapeake Bay. Also worth a visit: Ellsworth Urban

Hole in One

There are no windmills or pirates at the miniature golf course in South Germantown Recreational Park. This woodsy course, which features natural obstacles and sloping greens, is more like the real thing (but doesn’t take as long to complete). The compact and lighted 18-hole course is landscaped with native grasses and rock features and is designed for golfers of all ages. It’s $4.50 per round.

South Germantown

Recreational Park, 18056 Central Park Circle, Boyds; montgomeryparks.org/parksand-trails/miniature-golf

For the Birds

The Maryland Ornithological Society considers nine of the county’s parks to be “hot picks” for bird-watching. Among them is Rock Creek Regional Park in Derwood, where you’ll likely see pileated woodpeckers, roseate terns and Bachman’s sparrows on the trails that adjoin Lake Needwood. Also spotted here: great blue herons, European starlings, great egrets and doublecrested cormorants.

Rock Creek Regional Park, 6700 Needwood Road, Derwood; montgomeryparks.org/parks-andtrails/rock-creek-regional-park

Park playground in Silver Spring, with lots of slides and climbing cubes; and the colorful swings and slide playground at Waters Landing Local Park in Germantown, with its adjacent covered picnic area.

Greenbriar Local Park, 12525 Glen Road, Travilah; montgomeryparks.org/ parks-and-trails/greenbriar-local-park

Great Escape

Among the most remote places you can be in Montgomery County is the hiking-only Western Piedmont Trail, deep inside the 3,700-acre Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg. The 2.1-mile gravel trail, marked as “easy,” is good for birding and enjoying the wildflowers. It crosses through red cedar groves, Wims Meadow, and a bridge over Little Bennett Creek. Dogs on leashes are allowed.

Little Bennett Regional Park, 23701 Frederick Road, Clarksburg; montgomeryparks. org/parks-and-trails/littlebennett-regional-park

Serious Rollerblading

An 8-foot-wide asphalt path, which runs 4.2 miles and includes a wooden boardwalk, attracts rollerbladers to Matthew Henson State Park. Named after Matthew Henson, a Maryland native and arctic explorer, this path runs along Turkey Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek. It has a gradual uphill climb and takes about an hour to complete.

Matthew Henson State Park, 3801 Littleton St., Aspen Hill; montgomeryparks.org/parks-andtrails/matthew-henson-trail

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Greenbriar Local Park in Travilah includes a playground and picnic area.

PARKS at a Glance

Sports fans

The county park system has 299 tennis courts, 362 athletic fields, 275 playgrounds, 227 basketball courts, 42 pickleball courts, two indoor ice rinks, three cricket pitches, a Cal Ripken collegiate wooden bat league team and stadium (Bethesda Big Train at Shirley Povich Field within Cabin John Regional Park) and 65 miles of mountain bike trails.

For the kids

Two miniature trains to ride (at Cabin John and Wheaton regional parks); a splash park and mini-golf course at South Germantown Recreational Park; birthday party space for dinosaur discoveries, reptile encounters and stream splashes at Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda; and themed parties (campfire, fairy garden and more) at Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds. Naturalists also lead birthday parties at Meadowside and Brookside nature centers.

Great spots for people with special needs

Rickman Farm Horse Special Park in Boyds; Hadley’s Playground in Falls Road Local Park in Potomac; the Washington Nationals’ Miracle Field for baseball and T-ball at South Germantown Recreational Park.

Miles of trails

County parks offer 269 miles of natural and paved trails, including HeartSmart trails in four parks to encourage walking, with medallions embedded in the path to keep track of your distance. Wheaton Regional Park, South Germantown Recreational Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park in Silver Spring, and Wall Local Park in Rockville feature HeartSmart trails.

THE VIEW FROM SUGARLOAF

There’s a 500-million-year-old mountain in Montgomery County. Technically it straddles the Frederick County line, but Sugarloaf’s address is in Dickerson, so we have legitimate claiming rights. The mountain, first mapped by a Swiss explorer in 1707, was used as a natural lookout in the Civil War by both Union and Confederate forces.

The privately owned mountain is run by a nonprofit—Stronghold Inc.—which was set up in 1946 by its former owners, Gordon and Louise Strong, who made a fortune in Chicago real estate. Decades ago, Gordon Strong hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design a never-built structure with a restaurant and dance hall for visitors to take in views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Strong did build a substantial mansion on the property that is now used for weddings and other gatherings. Proceeds from rentals, membership dues and gifts, along with Stronghold’s trust fund, support the mountain park.

The Strongs were avid naturalists and directed that Sugarloaf Mountain should be freely available to the public. Nearly a quarter-million people visit Sugarloaf each year, making the registered natural landmark one of the area’s most popular parks. Maps of the trail system are

available in wooden boxes at the entrance. Three trails on the east and west faces can be used by hikers, bikers and horseback riders to reach the dramatic overlooks. Three quarter-mile trails then take you to the top of the 1,282-foot mountain. (Horses and mountain bikers have to stay on the yellow trail.) It’s a relatively easy walk to the overlooks, which are popular with families, bikers and walkers (dogs, too), and the western side has the better view of the expansive Monocacy Valley. You also can drive on paved switchbacks to the overlook areas. A 50-minute drive north of Bethesda, Sugarloaf is a pristine and cool spot for a picnic. There are a dozen wooden tables throughout the park, with several located under small shelters. (No grills or fires are permitted.) The forests are filled primarily with red and white oaks surrounded by more than 500 species of plants, along with deer, flying squirrels, wild turkeys, horned owls and red-shouldered hawks. The mountain park is studded with rocky outcroppings that kids can climb. n

Sugarloaf Mountain, 7901 Comus Road, Dickerson; 301-869-7846; sugarloafmd. com. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. spring and summer, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. fall and winter.

Bethesda resident Margaret Engel is director of the Alicia Patterson Foundation, which supports journalists

Hiking | Biking Trails

Here are some of the region’s best hiking and biking routes.

HIKING

Billy Goat Trail, Section A

There are three sections of the Billy Goat Trail in the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Potomac. The most popular, Section A, running from Great Falls toward Old Angler’s Inn, provides stunning views of Great Falls and the Potomac River below. The trail begins near the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, and continues straight along the Potomac River for roughly 2 miles of varied terrain, from dirt trails through thick forests to rock scrambles. The National Park Service recommends one-way hiking to prevent jams and reduce encounters with other hikers. www.nps. gov/choh

Rock Creek Park

Those looking for an escape into the natural world can find it in their backyards—sometimes literally—with the 2,000-acre Rock Creek Park, which abuts many neighborhoods in Silver Spring and Chevy Chase. Pick up the Western Ridge Trail on Beach Drive, near the Washington, D.C., line, and follow the green-blazed, 4-plus-mile trail through the heart of the park. Side trails lead to the park’s Nature Center and Planetarium, at 5200 Glover Road NW (temporarily closed), or the Smithsonian National Zoo at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, both in the District. Or stick to the path as it winds through thickly forested woods, and you’ll forget you’re in the city at all. www.nps.gov/ rocr

Monongahela National Forest

Those looking to escape summer crowds might

want to drive a couple extra hours beyond Shenandoah National Park to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The roughly 7-mile, three- to fourhour Cowpasture Trail loop offers something for history-seekers and would-be botanists alike. From the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, walk northeast on Route 150 until it meets up with crumbling blacktop, the site of the old Mill Point Federal Prison Camp, a 1930s work camp with no bars, fences or barricades. (The remote location was thought to be enough to prevent escapes.) Follow the Cowpasture Trail as it leads into the woods and eventually meets up with the boardwalk through the Cranberry Glades, a series of five peat bogs created during the last glacial period. The area’s acidic soil supports plant life more commonly found in Canada than in the Mid-Atlantic region, including cranberry vines and carnivorous plants. After following the boardwalk around, meet up with Route 150 again and retrace your steps back to the nature center. It’ll take you four hours to drive back to Bethesda, so consider reserving a spot to pitch a tent at the Cranberry Campground for the evening. www. fs.usda.gov/mnf

Old Rag Mountain

The 9.2-mile Old Rag loop near Sperryville, Virginia, is as much a warm-weather D.C. tradition as the National Cherry Blossom Festival. But be forewarned: On sunny summer days, the route to the 3,291-foot mountain gets as crowded as the Beltway during rush hour, so start the hour-and-45-minute drive from Bethesda early. The hike starts in the Old Rag parking lot. From there, walk less than a mile uphill along State Road 600, then follow the blue-blazed Ridge Trail through several switchbacks to the first of many viewpoints at the 2-mile mark. The fun begins less than a mile later, when you scramble over a series of rock formations for the last mile of the trail. This includes shimmying through a narrow crevice in a large rock formation and walking through a small cave. Continue to follow the blue blazes to the summit for expansive

views of Shenandoah National Park, then follow the blue-blazed trail and map directions to get back down. With steep, uneven pathways and inevitable stops for photo opportunities, it’s wise to set aside an entire day for the hike. (No pets allowed.) Families with young kids may want to view the National Park Service video detailing the dangers associated with the hike before planning a trip. A $1 day pass, available to purchase online, is required through Nov. 30, 2022. www. nps.gov/places/old-rag.htm

Sugarloaf Mountain

This 1,282-foot mountain in Dickerson—just a 35-minute drive from Bethesda—has arguably some of the best hiking in the area. Try the 7-mile loop around the base of the mountain, open to hikers and horseback riders year-round and bikers from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekdays only. Follow the 5-mile blue trail from the Westview parking lot through a thick forest of oak, tulip poplar and Eastern hemlock trees. Or take a quarter-mile hike on the green trail from the Westview parking lot to the summit. With 15 miles of trails within the recreation area, visitors have plenty of well-marked options to shorten the route. Stop for a wine tasting at Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard on Comus Road, near the entrance to the recreation area, before heading home. www. sugarloafmd.com

Whiteoak Canyon

Looking for something less strenuous than Old Rag? Try the three-hour, 4.6-mile out-and-back Whiteoak Canyon hike, also in Shenandoah National Park. Highlights include some of the park’s highest waterfalls and multiple swimming holes. Start at the Whiteoak Parking Area along Skyline Drive and follow the Whiteoak Canyon Falls Trail downhill. The trail will eventually parallel Whiteoak Run, a babbling stream you’ll follow until you reach Upper Whiteoak Falls. Stop to admire the 86-foot cascade, the highest of the Whiteoak falls, and cool down in one of the swimming holes below it before heading back. Intrepid hikers may want to continue on to the lower falls, adding 2.7 miles (and a 1,100-foot change in elevation) round trip to their journey. You’ll be hiking uphill on the way back, though, so conserve your energy. As with Old Rag, it’s best to arrive early to avoid congestion. www.nps.gov/thingstodo/lowerwhiteoak-falls.htm

ROAD BIKING Beach Drive

Parts of the leaf-canopied road are closed to

We may live in a major metropolitan area, but getting close to nature is easy.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Cyclists pedal along Beach Drive

vehicular traffic from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. MondaySunday, creating a wide, flat, paved surface suitable both for triathletes in training and for families with young kids on training wheels. (A word of caution, though: Paved trails such as this can get busy on weekends, so families should beware speeding cyclists.) Those looking to add mileage or variety can wander onto the paved, 18.6-mile Rock Creek multi-use trail or other adjoining paths. www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/ things2do.htm; www.montgomeryparks.org

C&O Canal Towpath

This 184.5-mile towpath along the C&O Canal is the go-to location for long-distance bike rides in the Bethesda area. The wide, flat, hard-pack dirt trail follows the north bank of the Potomac River from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. But even short chunks of the towpath make for a great day trip, with killer river views for cyclists and hikers of all ages and experience levels. www.nps.gov/choh

Capital Crescent Trail

The 11-mile Capital Crescent Trail may be the best place in the Bethesda area for a family bike ride. The trail, which follows the abandoned tracks of the Georgetown Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, stretches from Silver Spring to Georgetown. The 7-mile section from Bethesda to Georgetown is especially family-friendly, with a 10-foot-wide, hard-surface trail (the section from Bethesda to Silver Spring is packed, crushed

stone). Woodsy and scenic, the trail traverses historic tunnels and bridges. The trail is closed east of Bethesda for construction of the light-rail Purple Line. www.cctrail.org

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Find directions to the mountain-biking trails below and scope out other trails by visiting www.more-mtb.org.

Gambrill State Park/Frederick Watershed

Mountain bikers willing to cross the county line will find 16 miles of wooded, rocky trails in the Catoctin Mountains northwest of Frederick, about an hour from Bethesda. All trails (except the blue) are loops, allowing cyclists to explore new terrain every inch of their ride. Though beginners won’t find much here, experts will love the steep trails, ample rock gardens and heartstopping descents.

Little Bennett and Black Hill regional parks

Located in Clarksburg and Boyds, respectively, these two parks offer some of the most challenging trails in Montgomery County. The hills are steeper and the roots and rocks are gnarlier than almost anywhere else nearby. But here, too, beginners can pedal along paved or gravel trails

while adventure-seekers can test their skills on the single-track trails. Both are less than an hour from Bethesda.

Patapsco Valley State Park

Once you’ve covered the trails listed here, expand your horizons at the 16,000-acre Patapsco Valley State Park, located a few miles from the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, about 40 minutes from Bethesda. The park extends along the 32-mile Patapsco River Valley, and its slopes provide some intense uphill climbs. It gets crowded on summer weekends, area cyclists say, because it offers the longest, steepest trails around.

Schaeffer Farm

This Germantown recreation area, located about 45 minutes from Bethesda, is the heart of Montgomery County’s mountain-biking scene. With rolling hills, swoopy turns and a few roots along its 15 miles of single-track trails, it’s ideal for intermediate riders looking for a fun and scenic course. The best part: It offers options for beginning mountain bikers, too. Start with the 2-mile white-orange loop, which is wellmarked and relatively easy.

—AMY REININK

For more information about county parks, check out www.montgomeryparks.org.

Health

DATA SHOWS THE AVERAGE life expectancy in Montgomery County is about 85 years, longer than for most people in the country. That longevity can be credited in part to the excellent medical care, doctors and hospitals located nearby.

A nurse checks on a patient at Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville.

Area Hospitals

What you need to know about their services and specialties

BY ARCHANA PYATI AND AMY REININK

Suburban Hospital

Located in Bethesda, Suburban Hospital is a 228-bed facility that specializes in acute care and offers all major medical services except for obstetrics. Suburban is the statedesignated level II adult trauma center for Montgomery County, meaning acute care and surgical services must always be available. The hospital treats about 1,200 trauma patients each year.

Suburban Hospital became a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2009 and is affiliated with the National Institutes of Health, located across the street. The hospital’s new 300,000-square-foot North Building, featuring 108 private patient rooms, 14 operating rooms with robotic technology, two interventional cardiovascular labs and a new visitor lounge, opened in March 2020.

Suburban provides cardiac surgery, elective and emergency angioplasty, and inpatient diagnostic and rehabilitation services through the Johns Hopkins Cardiothoracic Surgery Program. The hospital also offers radiation and surgical

oncology as part of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, and provides comprehensive treatment for multiple brain and nervous system conditions. It maintains a 24-hour stroke team, provides orthopedic care, and operates a fullservice emergency department, including a pediatric emergency center for children and adolescents.

8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301896-3100, Suburbanhospital.org

Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center

Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center provides an array of communitybased and regional services, as well as comprehensive behavioral healthcare. In 2022, the 443-bed hospital was set to begin construction of a new care tower, which will create all-private medical-surgical rooms and state-of-the-art replacements for Shady Grove’s emergency room and intensive care unit.

Shady Grove has received national honors for its fast, high-quality heart attack

and stroke care. Its neurology offerings include an advanced brain and spine surgery program with sophisticated imaging and minimally invasive surgery and stroke treatment capabilities. Shady Grove’s emergency services span its main Rockville campus and a freestanding emergency room in Germantown. Shady Grove also is home to a Forensic Medical Unit, the only one of its kind in Montgomery County where specially trained nurses care for victims of abuse and assault.

Shady Grove is a popular choice for expectant moms. The hospital’s Birth Center welcomes 4,500 babies a year and includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for premature babies and infants needing high-level care. Families recover in private rooms and enjoy parenting classes, breastfeeding resources and support groups. The hospital also has a dedicated pediatric emergency room and an inpatient pediatric unit for longer stays. Both are staffed by doctors and nurses who specialize in treating children.

Shady Grove offers both routine and complex surgical capabilities. Its joint replacement surgery programs have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, an internationally recognized symbol of quality and safety in healthcare. In addition, Shady Grove’s weight-loss surgery program is also nationally recognized for its excellent outcomes.

The Shady Grove Adventist Aquilino Cancer Center houses oncologists, diagnostic and treatment services, and wellness programs under one roof. Research is a growing focus for Shady Grove, where doctors are conducting innovative clinical trials on cancer treatments, heart care and COVID-19. Mental health is also a major focus for Shady Grove, which offers inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services for children and adults. The hospital also operates The Lourie Center for Children’s Social & Emotional Wellness, a pioneer in infant and child mental health research and treatment. All Shady Grove services connect patients to the wider Adventist HealthCare network, which includes physician practices, physical rehabilitation services, home care and more.

9901 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, 240826-6000, adventistsgmc.com

As part of its comprehensive cancer program, Holy Cross Health offers radiation therapy in Silver Spring.

High-Quality Care Close to Home

It’s Easy to Access Primary Care

Holy Cross Health Partners brings the award-winning excellence of Holy Cross Health to three convenient primary care locations. Our highly-skilled, board-certified practitioners in internal medicine, family medicine and geriatric medicine provide a complete range of primary care services for the whole family. We offer same-day and next-day appointments, as well as virtual visits.

Holy Cross Health Partners in Kensington

Adults 18+ years | 3720 Farragut Ave., 2nd Fl., Kensington, MD 20895

Holy Cross Health Partners at Asbury Methodist Village

Adults 55+ years | 201 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Holy Cross Health Partners Progressive Medical Care

Children & adults | 18530 Office Park Dr., Montgomery Village, MD 20886

You can also find care with Holy Cross Health at our two hospitals:

• Holy Cross Germantown Hospital

• Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring

In addition to primary care, Holy Cross Health offers a full range of medical services, specializing in:

• Women’s Health

• Cancer

• Neuroscience

• Surgical Specialties

• Seniors Care

Leal Hsiao, MD – Family Medicine

Holy Cross Health Partners in Kensington

Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center

Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center’s state-of-the-art hospital in Silver Spring features 198 private patient rooms and the latest medical technology and treatments.

White Oak Medical Center specializes in heart care, maternity and childbirth, orthopedics and surgery, and care for emergencies, stroke and cancer. Its high-quality, comprehensive heart program offers heart attack care, angioplasty, heart stenting, treatment of heart rhythm disorders, openheart surgery, minimally invasive heart valve surgery, advanced structural heart procedures and cardiac rehabilitation.

White Oak was the first comprehensive cardiac center in Montgomery County and has provided the most advanced, leastinvasive heart care for 60 years. White Oak Medical Center has achieved excellent heart surgery quality ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for patient care and outcomes and is an American College of Cardiology Accredited Chest Pain Center.

The Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services and Systems has designated the hospital as a Cardiac Interventional Center and Primary Stroke Center. White Oak Medical Center is recognized for quality achievement by the American Heart Association for heart attack and stroke care.

The White Oak Medical Center campus also offers a wide range of outpatient services in its Medical Pavilion. Services include primary care and specialty physician’s offices, Adventist HealthCare Imaging, Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation and comprehensive cancer treatment at the White Oak Cancer Center.

11890 Healing Way, Silver Spring, 240-6374000, adventistwhiteoak.com

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is a 117-bed hospital in Olney that offers a full range of services and a separate pediatric center. MedStar Montgomery’s stroke and chest pain centers have earned accredi-

tations from ACC Accreditation Services and The Joint Commission. MedStar Montgomery also has received the Delmarva Foundation’s Excellence Award for Quality Improvement for five consecutive years.

The hospital offers comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment services for adolescents and adults, and a self-contained 24-hour crisis evaluation unit for behavioral health patients in its emergency department.

Founded in 1918, the hospital was known as Montgomery General Hospital until it merged in 2008 with MedStar Health, a regional health system that includes MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. MedStar Montgomery has the ability to tap into the greater resources of MedStar Health.

18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney, 855-6330207, www.medstarmontgomery.org

Holy Cross Hospital

Located just outside the Capital Beltway in Silver Spring, Holy Cross Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in the state, a 449bed facility that cares for about 36,000 inpatients a year, offering private rooms to all patients.

A member of Trinity Health, Holy Cross Health was founded by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1963. It provides expertise in women’s and infant health, innovative senior care, surgery, neuroscience and cancer.

In U.S. News & World Report’s 20202021 listing of America’s Best Hospitals, Holy Cross Hospital ranked among the top 10 hospitals in Maryland, tying for 10th place. In 2020, Holy Cross Hospital received Healthgrades’ “America’s 250

Best Hospitals Award,” placing it in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for clinical outcomes for the fourth consecutive year.

Holy Cross Hospital’s Seniors Emergency Center, a dedicated space designed to care for older adults with non-life-threatening needs, was the first of its kind in the nation.

Holy Cross Hospital is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems and has been designated an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission.

The hospital also has received quality recognition for its cancer program, breast center, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, and epilepsy monitoring unit, and for hip and knee replacements, spine surgery and bariatric surgery.

1500 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, 301754-7000, HolyCrossHealth.org

Holy Cross Germantown Hospital

Located just off I-270, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital is a six-story, 237,000-square-foot facility with 78 beds and a full-service emergency department. The hospital offers medical, surgical, emergency, maternity, intensive, behavioral health and diagnostic care. Patient rooms are private.

The hospital is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. Surgical care includes a broad range of specialties, and robotic surgery is available. The hospital also offers advanced digestive health diagnostic technologies and treatments.

The hospital is part of the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology

Sibley Memorial Hospital offers maternity services.

at Montgomery College and is the first hospital in the nation built on a community college campus, with an educational partnership to train future health care providers.

19801 Observation Drive, Germantown, 301-557-6000, HolyCrossHealth.org

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Sibley Memorial Hospital, located in Northwest Washington, D.C., not far from the Montgomery County line, has been serving the community since its founding in 1890. The 318-bed community hospital offers medical, surgical, obstetric, oncological and orthopedic care, skilled nursing inpatient services and an emergency department. Sibley’s campus is also home to the Grand Oaks assisted-living facility, a medical building with physician offices, and ambulatory surgery and imaging centers.

A member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sibley opened a new and expanded emergency department in 2015. The department includes a dedicated fast-track area to care for patients with minor illnesses, as well as interior and exterior decontamination showers capable of handling unique emergencies, such as a mass exposure to hazardous materials.

Sibley opened a new main building in 2016 with 200 large fully private rooms, the capacity to handle 4,500 births per year, a new pharmacy, expanded oncological services, new operating rooms and more.

The Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center at the hospital features three treatment rooms and more than 30 specialists, combining innovative technology and advancements in research to provide tailored cancer treatment for children and adults.

With its 3,000-square-foot “Innovation Hub,” Sibley is believed to be the only community hospital in the country with a hospital-based center to foster new ideas in patient care. Says former Sibley President Richard Davis, who established the Innovation Hub, “It is a real-world laboratory for testing new ideas and for providing the resources in which to implement them.” 5255 Loughboro Road NW, Washington, D.C., 202-537-4000, www.sibley.org n

READERS’ CHOICES FOR Best Health Care

Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks in 2021 and 2022 for the top medical practices, practitioners and hospital departments. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Suburban Hospital

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center

Holy Cross Hospital–Silver Spring

CONCIERGE MEDICAL PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

MDVIP

Premier Senior Care

Foxhall Internists Prime

One Medical

DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Capital Laser & Skin Care

DermAssociates

Drs. Jaffe, O’Neill & Lindgren—An Affiliate of Anne Arundel Dermatology

ICON Dermatology & Aesthetics

Chevy Chase Dermatology Center

Gerson Zatezalo Skin & Face

ORTHODONTICS PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Rad Orthodontics

Drs. Ensor Johnson and Lewis

Gerlein Orthodontics

Frederick S. Fritz DDS

Harmony Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Heller Or thodontics

Dr. Jill J. Bruno Orthodontics

AUDIOLOGY PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

The Centers for Advanced ENT Care—

Feldman ENT Division

Potomac Audiology

Bethesda Audiology Center

ORTHOPEDIC PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

OrthoBethesda

Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Summit Orthopedics

Greater Washington Orthopaedic Group

Montgomery Orthopaedics

PRACTICE/PLACE FOR MEDICAL AESTHETICS

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Capital Laser & Skin Care

ICON Dermatology & Aesthetics

RENU by Dr. Schoenfeld

Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery

West Institute

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

RISE

Liberty Cannabis

Health For Life

Harvest

Peake ReLeaf

gLeaf Medical Cannabis

THERAPIST FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Washington Psychological Wellness

The Counseling Center of Mar yland

Georgetown Psychology

Potomac Therapy Group

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Maplewood Park Place

Leisure World of Maryland

Fox Hill

The Village at Rockville

Riderwood by Erickson Senior Living

IN-HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Family & Nursing Care

Capital City Nurses

Montcordia

Home Instead

Advanced Nursing + Home Support

CarePlus Home Health

PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Precision Physical Therapy

ProAction Physical Therapy

Issa Physical Therapy & Wellness

Point Performance

OrthoBethesda

CHIROPRACTOR

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Complete Chiropractic & Rehabilitation

Bethesda Chiropractic Center

Bethesda Spine & Posture

Moskowitz Chiropractic

Proactive Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

HOSPITAL FOR MATERNITY

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove

Medical Center

Holy Cross Hospital

COSMETIC SURGEON

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Jennifer Parker Porter, MD

Joseph Michaels, MD

A. Dean Jabs, MD

Roger Friedman, MD

Gregory O. Dick, MD

Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD

Bruno | Brown Plastic Surgery

OB-GYN

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Capital Women’s Care

Foxhall OB/GYN Associates

Bloom OB/GYN

Brendan F. Burke, MD

Vivian M. Fraga, MD

Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht

Diane J. Snyder, MD

HEART/STROKE CARE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Suburban Hospital

Heart Care Bethesda (Johns Hopkins Community Physicians)

MedStar Washington Hospital Center

PEDIATRIC DENTIST

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Derek Blank, DDS

Drs. Ensor, Johnson & Lewis

Ricardo A. Perez, DDS

Karen Benitez, DDS

Roya Pilcher, DDS

Charlie Coulter, DDS

GENERAL DENTIST

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Steven Janowitz, DDS

Jason A. Cohen, DDS

Taff & Levine

Jay H. Samuels, DDS

Richard Hunsinger Jr., DDS

Timothy J. Dunn, DDS

David J. Schlactus, DMD

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Champlain Ophthalmology

Harry H. Huang, MD

Laurie J. Wenger, MD

Charles F. Bahn, MD

Michael Tigani, MD

PODIATRIST

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Paul Ross, DPM

Franklin R. Polun, DPM

Amir D. Assili, DPM

Gene S. Mirkin, DPM

Lee E. Firestone, DPM

Michael Gittleson, DPM

URGENT CARE PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Righttime Medical Care

PM Pediatrics

Patient First–Rockville

MedOne Urgent Care

MedStar Health Urgent Care–Chevy Chase

MARRIAGE/FAMILY THERAPY PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

The Counseling Center of Maryland

Potomac Therapy Group

Emily Cook Therapy

VEIN CARE PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Center for Vein Restoration

Capitol Vein & Laser Centers

Vein Clinics of America

Horizon Vascular Specialists

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Maplewood Park Place

Leisure World

The Village at Rockville

Asbury Methodist Village

Five Star Premier Residences of Chevy Chase

Erickson Living–Riderwood

Ingleside at King Farm

IN-HOME HEALTH CARE

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Lifematters

Family & Nursing Care

Advanced Nursing + Home Support

Capital City Nurses

Home Instead

No Appointment Needed

BY CYDNEY HARGIS

BETHESDA

All Care Urgent Care

8305 Wisconsin Ave., 301-800-7000, allcarefamilymed.com

Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Med-One Urgent Care

7930 Old Georgetown Road, 301-652-0111,

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

MedStar Health: Urgent Care at Bethesda

4507 Stanford St., Bethesda 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/ urgent-care-bethesda

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

CHEVY CHASE

MedStar Health Urgent Care

Barlow Building, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., #401, 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/mhs/urgent-care-chevychase

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

GAITHERSBURG

All Day Medical Care Clinic

702 Russell Ave., Ste. 100, 301-330-0006 alldaymedicalcare.com

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday

Concentra Urgent Care

803 Russell Ave., Suite 1A and 1B, 301-869-0700, concentra.com/urgent-care-centers

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday

Medstar Health: Urgent Care in Gaithersburg at Muddy Branch 882 Muddy Branch Road, 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/urgent-caregaithersburg-at-muddy-branch

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

MedStar Health Urgent Care

12111 Darnestown Road, 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/urgent-caregaithersburg

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

GERMANTOWN

Medstar Health: Urgent Care at Germantown

19777 Frederick Road, 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/urgent-caregermantown

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Patient First Primary and Urgent Care 21044 Frederick Road, 240-238-5432, first-clinic-llc.business.site

Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Monday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday

Patriot Urgent Care 19825 Frederick Road, 240-801-9944, patriotuc.com/location/germantown

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

KENSINGTON

Fast Track Urgent Care

10540 Connecticut Ave., 301-949-0300, fastrackmd.com

Patriot Urgent Care

750 Rockville Pike, 301-424-0658, patriotuc.com/book/rockville/

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Physicians Now Urgent Care

15215 Shady Grove Road, Suite 100, 301-519-0902, myphysiciansnow.com

Hours: 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays

Patient First Urgent Care

726 Rockville Pike, 240-238-0411, patientfirst.com

Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

SILVER SPRING

Fast Track Urgent Care

13428 New Hampshire Ave., 844-202-1532, fastrackmd.com

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday,

POTOMAC First Clinic

Potomac Medical Arts Center, 9800 Falls Road, Suite 3, 301-765-9255, firstclinicllc.com

MedStar Health: Urgent Care at Silver Spring 20 University Blvd. East, 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/urgent-caresilver-spring

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Medstar Health: Urgent Care at Potomac

350 Fortune Terrace, Suite D, 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/urgent-carepotomac

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

ROCKVILLE

MedStar Health: Urgent Care at Rockville

12220 Rockville Pike, 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/urgent-carerockville

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Patient First Urgent Care

8206 Georgia Ave., 301-960-4682, patientfirst.com

Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

WHEATON

Access Now Urgent Care

11406-F Georgia Ave., 301-200-2230, accessnowurgentcare.com

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

MedStar Health Urgent Care

11915 Georgia Ave., 855-910-3278, medstarhealth.org/locations/urgent-carewheaton

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily n

Need a doctor in a hurry? Here are 23 places to go for urgent medical care.

Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery

JENNIFER PARKER PORTER, MD, FACS JIGAR SITAPARA, MD

Awards and Honors:

Double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon; Bethesda Magazine Top Doctor, 2019, 2021; Best of the Best, Best Cosmetic Surgeon 2021; Top Vote Getter, Best Cosmetic Surgeon, 2017, 2020; Director, American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; Acting VP of Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion, American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery

7201 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 515  Bethesda, MD 20814  301-652-8191

www.ChevyChaseFace.com

Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery is a high-end, boutique-style practice that values quality over quantity. Founded in 2003 by Dr. Jennifer Parker Porter, the practice offers a full spectrum of cosmetic treatments and procedures. “We individualize rather than standardize,” says Dr. Porter, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon specializing in rhinoplasty and surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation. “Every course of treatment I prescribe is unique to that patient. I take into account their face shape, bone structure, age, skin thickness and a variety of other factors that may influence the outcome of surgery.”

Dr. Porter has received numerous awards and honors during her 23 years of practice. She’s been named a Bethesda Magazine Top Doctor and Top Vote Getter several times, and she was recently honored as “Best of the Best” for Cosmetic Surgery. She gives back to her specialty as Director of the American Board of Otolaryngology, and she serves as acting vice president and former chair of the

American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery’s Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion.

The growing team at Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery focuses on delivering balanced and natural results. They have extensive experience with facelifts, eyelid surgery, Botox, fillers, Aerolase Neo, EmbraceRF and a variety of skin care treatments. Conveniently located a few blocks from the Bethesda Metro, Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery is the only facial plastic surgery practice in downtown Bethesda. They are pleased to offer 10% off your treatment (Botox/Dysport) when you download and book your appointment through their Tox2GO app.

Sherry L. H. Maragh, MD, FAAD, FACS, FACMS

MARAGH DERMATOLOGY, SURGERY & VEIN INSTITUTE

Awards & Honors

2020, Best of Suburbia, Best Vein Clinic; Best of Suburbia, Best Dermatologist, Posh Seven Magazine, 2019; Best (for Botox, fillers and injectables) of Suburbia, Posh Seven Magazine, 2018

14995 Shady Grove Road, Suite 150 Rockville, MD 20850

301-358-5919

www.maraghdermatology.com

“Skin is the body’s largest organ,” Dr. Sherry Maragh says. It’s important to care for this protective layer just as one would any other part of the body.” Dr. Maragh leads a thriving dermatology practice with state-of-the-art offices in Rockville, Ashburn, Virginia and Warrenton, Virginia. The Maragh Dermatology, Surgery and Vein Institute has established itself as one of the premier centers for comprehensive dermatological treatment in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Maragh Dermatology specializes in the most advanced techniques of medical, laser, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. Besides treating a wide spectrum of general dermatological conditions, the board-certified physicians at Maragh Dermatology also offer a variety of minimally invasive treatments for face and body rejuvenation – including liposuction, cellulite treatment, body contouring (featuring EMSculpt Neo) and vein removal. Laser technology is used to repair stretch marks and tighten skin, as

well as treat acne and rosacea.

With extensive training in Mohs micrographic surgery, Dr. Maragh has performed over 5,000 skin cancer surgeries with cosmetic facial reconstruction. Dr. Maragh and her team take the time to get to know every patient, providing compassionate medical care with treatments carefully tailored to each patient’s individual needs.

Sun exposure over time causes cumulative damage to the skin, but early detection can save lives. Dr. Maragh encourages patients to be proactive by setting up routine screenings to maintain skin health. Dr. Maragh is a leading expert on the latest advances and techniques in dermatologic and cosmetic surgery and a frequent speaker at medical conferences nationwide.

Heather Sholander, DMD, MS & Madeleine Goodman, DMD

Dr. Goodman is an orthodontist and president-elect of the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists. Dr. Heather is a pediatric dentist and a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. They have been practicing together in the area for over 10 years.

4818 Del Ray Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 301-664-4220

smile@harmonybethesda.com www.harmonybethesda.com

Q: What makes you stand out as dentists?

A: Teamwork: Over the years we’ve developed a shared philosophy that treating the patient as a whole is more beneficial than the traditional specialty approach. It takes a team to help a child grow to his or her full potential. This includes not only a collaborative orthopediatric approach but also working with other specialists like speech therapists and pediatricians and most importantly, the child’s family. We strive to create an environment where we get to know each family individually and focus on their specific needs.

Q: What is unique about your practice?

A: Supporting others: Harmony has partnered with a wonderful non-profit called City Blossoms that develops kidfocused green spaces that supply food, community and the opportunity to learn through creativity and play. For every

new patient, we support this cause by donating plants to help these gardens grow because we believe that health starts from the ground up!

Q: How do you employ new technology to help your patients?

A: Innovative techniques: We are both board-certified specialists who strive to create a standard of care by integrating technology, research and experience. It is a running joke in Dr. Goodman’s house that Facebook is where you go to look at teeth and Dr. Heather’s kids think research articles are a normal Saturday morning read. We have incorporated state-oftheart technology into our practice such as a digital scanner (no more yucky impressions) and a dental laser which allows us to fill most cavities without anesthesia!

HARMONY PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS

DC Pediatric Smiles

THE ORTHO SUITE

FROM LEFT:

SARAH FORD, PEDIATRIC DENTAL HYGIENIST

SYDNEY COLES, PEDIATRIC DENTAL HYGIENIST

MEREDITH SELLERS, OFFICE MANAGER

DR DEREK BLANK, PEDIATRIC DENTIST

ELSY ESTRADA, PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSISTANT

ANED MOLLINEDO, CLINICAL MANAGER

SHAE COLEMAN, EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR

NOT PICTURED:

ALLISON LEDESMA, ZAZZI LOPEZ, AND DAJAH RICHARDSON (CATCHING WAVES AT SURF CAMP DURING PHOTO)

Awards & Honors:

“Best Pediatric Dentist”, Bethesda Magazine, Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll, 2019; Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

5640 Shields Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 301-363-9026

www.dcpediatricsmiles.com

Q: What is unique about your practice?

A: At DC Pediatric Smiles, your child’s dental visit is as fun as a trip to the beach. Step into our office and you’ll be immersed in the bright, clean, beach house vibe of coastal California. Our team is committed to providing children with a comfortable and approachable introduction to dentistry in the safest environment possible. Our motto is simple: Laugh. Grow. Smile. Families love the positive, encouraging experience we provide kids of all ages. We also understand that convenience is key for busy parents. We offer online, mobile-friendly forms, contactless reception, curbside check-in and ample free surface parking.

Q: How would your patients describe you?

A: I think patients would say I’m fun, energetic, patient and approachable. As a father of three young kids, I understand the importance of connecting with all my

patients to ensure their first impression of the dentist is positive. Coming into the dental setting understandably can be intimidating and scary for kids (and parents too). Our team is talented at easing any fear through their laidback, calm and confident approach to care. That’s how we’ve been crushing sugar bugs since 2017.

Q: What makes you different from other dentists?

A: The inclusive nature of our practice. I founded DC Pediatric Smiles on the principles of celebrating diversity and service to the greater community. In particular, patients with autism and children with unique medical needs find a comforting home at DC Pediatric Smiles. We are so fortunate to be located in such a dynamic, diverse region of the country. Our team strives to provide fun, kidfriendly dentistry in a positive setting to all families to build healthy, happy smiles for a lifetime.

Karen Benitez, DDS

CHEVY CHASE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

8401 Connecticut Ave., Suite 650 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-272-1246

hello@chevychasekids.dentist

www.chevychasekids.dentist

Affiliations & Awards:

Bethesda Magazine, Top Dentist, 2020

American Dental Association

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Maryland Pediatric Dental Association

American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry

Alpha Omega

Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences

Myofunctional Research Company

The Breathe Institute/Baby Breathe

Tongue-tied Academy

Q: What is unique about your practice?

A: Our entire office was specifically designed to build the most comfortable, fun atmosphere to meet our young patients' needs. Our space is alive with colors and toys, and even a separate nook just for kids. Our interactive-wall toys, costume sunglasses and movies help our littles gain confidence that they are involved in the entire experience — we understand good vibes! We encourage our patients to touch, feel and engage with us, making their dental experience comfortable for even the most nervous kiddos. Come experience the magic of Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry, where we "tickle teeth," use "power washes," spit into "magic straws," make silly faces and wear fun masks. Our enthusiasm to share this experience with our families cannot be curbed!

Q: What is one thing your patients should know about your practice?

A: Systemic health is a continuum of oral health, and we implement research-supported dentistry, providing conservative and predictable outcomes. Our advanced cavity management includes SDF/SMART therapies, the Hall Technique, White Zirconia Crowns and Lesion Sterilization and Tissue Repair and patients with MTHFR gene mutation, in which traditional treatment approaches are modified, making it critical to understand non-invasive treatment alternatives. Tethered tissues and feeding/ airway management are essential to your child's health. I collaborate with myofunctional and feeding therapists to provide laser releases and maintain airway-centric philosophies to guide proper development.

We care for each patient as though they are family. Our core philosophy centers on considering your child's unique needs. We welcome you to pop in for a visit soon!

Schools

THE COUNTY’S

SCHOOL

SYSTEM, the largest in Maryland and 14th biggest in the country, boasts some of the best schools in the nation. Montgomery County’s 209 public schools serve more than 160,560 students from 157 countries. The school system offers 135 elementary schools, 40 middle schools and 26 high schools, as well as several special schools. According to the Private School Review website, there are 185 private schools in the county serving nearly 33,000 students.

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

Students in a hallway at Glen Haven Elementary School in Silver Spring

READERS’ CHOICES FOR Best Schools & Kids Activities

Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks in 2021 and 2022 for the top public and private schools, summer camps and children’s activities. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

PRESCHOOL/DAY CARE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Geneva Day School

Washington Episcopal School

Christ Episcopal School

Georgetown Hill Early School

Bender Early Childhood Center

Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Nursery School

PRIVATE SCHOOL—LOWER SCHOOL

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Washington Episcopal School

McLean School

Bullis School

Christ Episcopal School

Norwood School

PRIVATE SCHOOL—UPPER SCHOOL

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Bullis School

McLean School

Holton-Arms School

Landon School

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION (Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Washington Episcopal School

St. Jane de Chantal School

Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

TUTORING FIRM (Readers’ Pick, 2022)

PrepMatters

Learning Essentials

Bass Educational Services

Prep U

YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Tru2Form Hoops

MSI (Montgomery Soccer Inc.)

Koa Sports

Maryland Nationals Baseball

Potomac Soccer Association

Pat the Roc Basketball Skills Academy

KIDS ART OR MUSIC CLASSES

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Bach to Rock Bethesda

VisArts

Washington Conservatory of Music

Maryland Youth Ballet

ArtWorks Fine Art Studio

Red Panda Art Studio

Glen Echo Park

PLACE FOR KIDS PARTIES

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

My Gym

Henry’s Sweet Retreat

Pat the Roc Basketball Skills Academy

Glen Echo Park

BusyBees

The Little Towns Children’s Museum

SUMMER DAY CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Geneva Day School’s Summer Program

SummerEdge at McLean School

Summer@WES (Washington Episcopal School)

Calleva

Creative Summer at Holton-Arms School

Green Acres Camp

Camp JCC at the Bender Center

SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Tru2Form Hoops

Bullis Summer Programs

Pat the Roc Basketball Skills Academy

Potomac Soccer Association

Landon Summer

Koa Sports Camp

INDOOR PLAY SPACE (Readers’ Pick, 2022)

The Little Towns Children’s Museum

My Gym

Sky Zone Trampoline Park+ ZavaZone

Pat the Roc Basketball Skills Academy

PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT DID THE BEST JOB WITH DISTANCE LEARNING

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Washington Episcopal School

McLean School

St. Jane de Chantal Catholic School

Landon School

Bullis School

The Academy of the Holy Cross

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR NONTRADITIONAL LEARNERS (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

McLean School

The Katherine Thomas School

The Siena School

The Lab School of Washington

The Diener School

Ivymount School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Landon School

Washington Episcopal School

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Holton-Arms School

Bullis School

McLean School

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR MUSIC/ARTS

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

McLean School

Landon School

Washington Episcopal School

Bullis School

Christ Episcopal School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR BOYS SPORTS (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Landon School

Georgetown Prep

Bullis School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SPORTS (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

The Academy of the Holy Cross

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Holton-Arms School

CHILDREN’S THEATER (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Imagination Stage

Adventure Theatre MTC

DANCE STUDIO (Readers’ Pick, 2021) Bethesda Conservatory of Dance

Dawn Crafton Dance Connection

Joy of Motion Dance Center

Bella Ballet

DRIVING SCHOOL (Readers’ Pick, 2021) I Drive Smart

Greg’s Driving School

SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Camp Tall Timbers

Calleva

Capital Camps

Camps Airy & Louise

SUMMER DAY CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2021) Calleva

McLean School SummerEdge

Valley Mill Camp

Landon Summer

Bar-T

Henry’s Sweet Retreat

Here’s

Preschool & Elementary

CONGRATULATIONS STONE RIDGE CLASS OF 2022!

May you continue to be inspired by the Goals & Criteria of Sacred Heart education in bringing the Heart of Christ into the world!

“Your example, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world.” St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart, 1800

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls grades 1-12, Catholic, independent school, with a co-educational Little Hearts program for children age three months through Kindergarten, located in Bethesda, Maryland.

FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

FRENCH IMMERSION FOR BEGINNERS

IB DIPLOMA, FRENCH BAC, HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

A Centennial Celebration

Empowering leaders to serve with faith, intellect, and confidence.

Beyond the Traditional Classroom

Montgomery County public schools offer plenty of enrichment options

BY NATALIE GRIFFIN

MONTGOMERY COUNTY public schools offer a variety of enrichment programs for students from elementary through high school. These magnet, language, accelerated and vocational/technical programs provide students with unique opportunities for a specialized education.

Some programs are open only to students who live within specific geographical areas, while others are open to students countywide.

MAGNET PROGRAMS

Magnet programs provide tailored curricula for gifted students or students showing promise or interest in a particular academic discipline ranging from math and science to arts and humanities.

College Gardens Elementary School in Rockville offers a Primary Years Programme in kindergarten through fifth grade. Takoma Park and Roberto Clemente middle schools offer a mathematics, science and computer science magnet program, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Eastern middle schools offer a humanities and communication magnet program. Eastern Middle School is in Silver Spring and Martin Luther King Jr. and Roberto Clemente are in Germantown.

High school magnet programs open to students countywide include the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Richard Montgomery

in Rockville, visual and performing arts at Albert Einstein in Kensington, global ecology at Poolesville and various career-focused education tracks at Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring. Students must apply for acceptance into these programs.

Admission into magnet programs often is highly competitive and consideration may begin with a central review by staff to identify which students may be qualified, followed by testing. Most applications, except for the elementary program, are due in the fall before the student would matriculate into the program. The application for the Takoma Park Elementary School enrichment magnet is due in the spring of the student’s kindergarten year.

Depending on the program, adjudicators may consider grades, coursework, test scores, teacher recommendations and written statements from students when determining admission. Most programs send acceptance decisions in late winter or early spring.

Several middle schools and high schools also offer regional or consortium-based programs. The Middle School Magnet Consortium consists of Argyle and A. Mario Loiederman middle schools in Silver Spring and Parkland Middle School in Rockville. Each school offers a challenging curriculum that focuses on a specific topic: digital

design and development at Argyle, creative and performing arts at Loiederman and aerospace technology and robotic engineering at Parkland.

At the high school level, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring offers a science, mathematics and computer science magnet that is open by application to incoming ninth-graders from specific high school clusters. Blair also offers a communications arts program open by application to students who attend middle schools in a specific geographical area. Wheaton High School is the home of biomedical and engineering magnets, and John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring offers the Leadership Training Institute. The Thomas Edison High School of Technology offers 18 highly acclaimed career and technology education programs.

Generally, applications to regional or consortium programs are limited to students who live within prescribed geographical boundaries. However, unfilled spots may be available to students who live outside the zones. The middle school magnet consortium program is available to everyone residing within prescribed geographical boundaries, and is open to other students by application.

All third-graders are reviewed for participation in the Centers for Enriched Studies in their region of the county. Students are notified in early February

PHOTO BY LAURA CHASE DE FORMIGNY

Students participating in an auto body repair technology program work on cars at Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring.

nese and some Spanish programs are partial immersion, while the French program and other Spanish programs are total immersion, meaning all core subjects are taught in the specific language. Middle school programs are all partial immersion.

These elementary schools offer language immersion programs: Bayard Rustin in Rockville and Potomac Elementary offer Chinese; Maryvale in Rockville and Sligo Creek in Silver Spring offer French; and Burnt Mills and William Tyler Page in Silver Spring, Rock Creek Forest in Chevy Chase and Rolling Terrace in Takoma Park offer Spanish.

Middle school students can continue Chinese at Herbert Hoover in Potomac, French at Gaithersburg Middle or Silver Spring International and Spanish at Silver Spring International or Westland in Bethesda.

Students entering kindergarten through fifth grade are eligible to apply through a spring lottery. Admittance for students in grades two through five is determined by both language proficiency and available space.

Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org for more information. n

IVYMOUNT OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Sharing the expertise of Ivymount School and The Maddux School with the community. Our highly-trained staff provide services to individuals, families, and professionals.

Endeavors

Educational & Therapeutic Programs

Individual and group programs for students and families, lead by our expert teachers and therapists. Includes speech therapy, occupational therapy, and tutoring.

Recreational Programs

After-school clubs and weekend group programs with an emphasis on FUN.

Professional Services

Individualized consultation services and trainings to organizations, agencies, schools and professionals using evidence-based practices.

Our mission is to help our neurodivergent learners live their most fulfilling lives

Norwood understands that in order to deliver the best possible education for our students, every student must be truly known in all their complexities. When students are known, teachers can design learning experiences that stretch without stress. When students are known, they feel safe asking big questions and becoming their true selves.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS Guide to Local Religious Institutions

CONGREGATION BETH EL

A vibrant, Conservative congregational community built on four core values: Inclusive, Welcoming, Connected, Relevant. Our services and programming create opportunities for connection, spirituality and support for all members— across stages of life and relationship with Judaism.

Deb Geiger, Director of Community Engagement, dgeiger@bethelmc.org | www.bethelmc.org | 301-652-2606

ST. LUKE'S

Whoever you are, wherever you come from, whatever you believe, whatever you don’t believe, you are welcome at St. Luke's, where we become a community united to serve the needs of the world.

Sunday Services 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. stlukesbethesda.org

DENTIST

ST. DUNSTAN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

All are welcome!

Seeking God + Building Community + Growing Faith + Reaching Out

Sunday Worship ~ 10:30 a.m. 5450 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda, MD 20816 301-229-2960 | www.stdunstansbethesda.org

TEMPLE EMANUEL

A caring, inclusive Reform Congregation fostering joyous, lifelong Jewish experiences. Proud of our diversity and progressive values manifested through worship, education, Torah study and social justice. We have an award-winning Religious School and highly respected Early Childhood Center.

10101 Connecticut Ave., Kensington, MD 20895 301-942-2000 | www.templeemanuelmd.org

www.facebook.com/TempleEmanuelMD

For information, contact: office@templeemanuelmd.org

FINDER Meet Leading Dentists in the Bethesda Area

COSMETIC DENTISTRY, GENERAL DENTISTRY

DR. STACIA M. KRANTZ

Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry

14955 Shady Grove Road, Suite 200 Rockville, MD 20850

301-610-9909

www.fallsgrovedentistry.com

Dental School: University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

Expertise: Dr. Krantz prides herself in treating her patients like family. Caring, compassionate, personalized treatment with over 20 years of experience in comprehensive family dentistry.

GENERAL DENTISTRY

DR. TODD WASSERMAN

Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry

14955 Shady Grove Road, Suite 200 Rockville, MD 20850

301-610-9909

www.fallsgrovedentistry.com

Dental School: Northwestern University

Expertise: We treat your family like our own, committed to caring for your dental needs by providing you general, cosmetic, and implant dentistry. A contemporary and comfortable environment allows our patients to achieve their dental health and cosmetic dreams.

Our Towns

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY defines

the towns and cities in the Bethesda area. From neighborhoods that hold annual events such as Fourth of July parades to concerts and festivals sponsored by individual towns and cities, these communities strive to create a welcoming environment for their residents, whether they have lived in Montgomery County all of their lives or have moved here.

Newcomers will find the county offers top-notch schools, a broad variety of housing styles and communities ranging from the bucolic neighborhoods of Potomac to the more urban environs of Bethesda, Rockville and Silver Spring.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Downtown Bethesda Streetery

Bethesda

SOMEONE ONCE REFERRED TO Bethesda

as “big city, small town.” It’s an apt description. Bethesda, which is actually unincorporated, has many of the attributes of a big city—a bustling downtown, an educated and sophisticated populace, a striking number and variety of restaurants, and world-class cultural venues. (The flip side is that it also has bad traffic, limited parking and expensive housing.) But Bethesda in many ways still feels like a small town: people recognize each other on the street, and there are dozens of leafy neighborhoods and a strong sense of

community. The addition of new shops and restaurants and high-end housing adds to the vitality of Bethesda’s bustling downtown. Meanwhile, construction cranes dot the downtown area as upscale condo and apartment complexes continue to rise, meeting a demand for close-in living and easy access to shops, dining and mass transportation. Construction of the Purple Line, a 16-mile light rail service, is underway. Once complete, it will extend from downtown Bethesda to Silver Spring, College Park and New Carollton, connecting to Metro, rail and local bus lines.

Downtown Bethesda is a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants and housing.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

In 1862, the town was named “Darcy’s Store,” after the general store, which housed the first post office. The town was officially renamed “Bethesda” in 1871, after the Presbyterian meetinghouse that can still be seen from Rockville Pike.

POPULATION 68,056

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Locals

#2 “WEALTHIEST ZIP CODES IN GREATER D.C.”

Washington Business Journal in 2021

#70 “BEST SUBURB TO LIVE IN AMERICA”

Niche.com in 2022

“We are centrally located. Everything is at your fingertips. In 30 minutes, you can be in downtown D.C., you can be in rural Potomac on a horse farm, yet within 10 minutes you are at some of the most unique restaurants in the metro area. It’s an amazing, rich food scene. We are always excited about the new restaurants and stores opening with the redevelopment in Bethesda.”

Tom Manatos head of federal affairs for digital payment company Block and founder of Tom Manatos Jobs

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Chevy Chase

DESPITE ITS HEAVY CONCENTRATION of high-octane inhabitants, Chevy Chase somehow manages to seem bucolic and old-fashioned, a place that time forgot. Chevy Chase isn’t a single entity, but rather a collection of small towns and unincorporated neighborhoods. Together they make up an affluent enclave of pricey homes, well-tended lawns and hushed

streets, as well as top-notch public schools—although many families choose private schools. Residents praise Chevy Chase for its family-friendliness and charm—as well as its proximity to the nation’s capital—and enjoy the convenience of having three Metro stops and downtown Bethesda close by.

Different styles of homes line the streets of Chevy Chase.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Chevy Chase wasn’t named for the famous former Saturday Night Live actor. Rather, the name stems from a 1725 land grant for 560 acres from Charles Calvert, Lord Baltimore, to Col. Joseph Belt. Belt called it Cheivy Chace, which may have come from the “Ballad of Chevy Chase,” a folk ballad popular in Scotland and Northern England.

Locals

TOWN

LIVE IN MARYLAND”

“I love how our neighborhood feels like a community. People are supportive of one another. We have a Fourth of July potluck. The community pool is a big draw and gathering place that brings people together for trivia nights, Sunday night movies, and family-friendly events to raise money for different causes. I like how people who live here are socially conscious and politically aware. They really care.”

Aviva Goldfarb cookbook author and director of marketing at Marquis & Co. Restaurants

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Gaithersburg/ North Potomac

FROM THE HISTORIC CENTRAL business district known as “Old Towne,” to the newer, planned neighborhoods that emphasize pedestrianfriendliness and community closeness, to the shops and restaurants of the Rio Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg has a lot to offer. It’s a diverse community that provides an affordable alternative to Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac. Crown, a growing neighborhood that lies near the intersection of I-270

and the I-370/Intercounty Connector, is a bustling community within walking distance of Downtown Crown, which features a Harris Teeter grocery store, restaurants, shops and businesses. Gaithersburg also features residential areas in the far west, such as Kentlands and its sister community, Lakelands, which were designed to be walkable and offer a variety of housing and recreation options.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

The town is named after the Gaither family of Virginia, which traced its lineage to the Jamestown Colony. Shortly after the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Gaither moved with his bride, Margaret, to her 200 acres of dowry land at the intersection of what is now Frederick and Diamond avenues.

Rio in Gaithersburg offers shopping, dining and entertainment.

POPULATION 69,657

#1

NORTH POTOMAC: “BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN MARYLAND”

#6

GAITHERSBURG: “MOST DIVERSE CITY IN U.S.”

“

”

“The diversity that you find [in Gaithersburg], in terms of people, culture, approaches, restaurants, just the community is great. I’ve lived in other areas of the U.S. and I travel a lot for work, and here you can feel it, you can notice it, and it is really interesting. We have such a great asset in this city because of that.”

Yamil Hernandez chief business officer of biotechnology company Exegi Pharma

Kensington & Garrett Park

WITH HISTORIC VICTORIAN homes, tree-lined streets and shady parks, Kensington doesn’t feel all that removed from its late 19th-century roots, when it was created as a haven from the Washington summer heat. In recent years, an influx of interior design studios, clothing boutiques, spas and restaurants has been changing the image of the town of nearly 2,100 residents. Since 2013, several new retailers have opened in the town and just outside of its borders in an area once dominated by auto repair shops.

Now, along with the timeworn furniture and collectibles of Antique Row, there are glass and art studios and a variety of apparel shops ranging from boutiques to consignment stores. And recent arrivals are creating a dining scene for people who want to stay close to home, adding even more to the appeal of this small community.

GARRETT PARK, an incorporated town located west of Kensington, offers impeccably preserved Victorian homes and “Chevy houses” of the mid-1920s;

the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Hallmarks include the towering trees and manicured gardens that led the town to designate itself an arboretum in 1977; as well as left-leaning politics and quirky traditions, including the lack of home mail delivery, which means residents must pick up their mail—and interact with their neighbors—at the town post office. The town is also conveniently located, with easy access to commuter trains and the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station.

POPULATION 2,122

EDUCATION

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 97%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

(percent of persons age 25+) 75.3%

INCOME

Median household income

$126,162

HOUSING

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $712,500

COMMUTE

Mean travel time to work

(workers age 16+) 32.6 minutes

POPULATION 1,049

EDUCATION

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 100%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

(percent of persons age 25+) 86.4%

INCOME

Median household income $221,250

HOUSING

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $823,300

COMMUTE

Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+) 31.3 minutes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

PHOTO BY RUSS SPRAGUE;

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

KENSINGTON

GARRETT PARK

The Black Market Bistro in Garrett Park

Noyes Children’s Library in Kensington

Locals

“When I moved to Garrett Park, I was coming from living in the city and I was looking for a change of pace—somewhere with a neighborhood-y feel, quiet and an escape from work. [Garrett Park] has parades and it’s packed with kids at Halloween. Also, it’s cool that we have our own restaurants [and] post office, and when it snows we have our own plow service.”

Marcus Lee owner of PureFire Yoga

Locals

“I’m a big cyclist, and I can head out the door in any direction for a ride. My favorite is to go to Rock Creek Park on weekends when they close off Beach Drive. We have access to the outdoors and access to mass transit with two Metro stations within walking distance, and the MARC train in downtown Kensington.”

Kristen Moe registered dietician with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and captain in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service

“Kensington is a great combination of suburban and urban life. It’s very vibrant. I like to go to the local yoga studio, shop on Saturdays at the farmers market, walk along the historic antique row, and hang out at the local coffee shops. All these things are within easy reach. It has a small-town feel.”

DeCarlo

Spouses Kristen Moe (left) and Jackie DeCarlo

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Jackie

CEO of Manna Food Center

Potomac

POTOMAC IS ONE OF the Bethesda area’s most affluent communities, characterized by large lots, houses that run the gamut from spacious to gargantuan, rolling fields with split-level fences and the genteel, outdoorsy feel of horse country. Cars are a must, but the schools are top-notch, the parks and preserves are abundant, and the shops in Potomac Village bustle with customers. On the downside: The cost of housing means Potomac is off limits to many—in 2022, the average sales price in

Potomac’s 20854 ZIP code was about $1.1 million. And all that seclusion can translate into long commutes for workers. But residents don’t need to drive to Rockville or Bethesda for a decent meal. Recent years have seen the arrival in Potomac Village of some well-regarded eateries and diners can find plenty to choose from at Park Potomac, a mixed-use development off I-270, and Cabin John Village, a retail and residential redevelopment offering a variety of shops and restaurants.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

The annual Potomac Day celebration draws visitors of all ages.

After the Civil War, steady growth in the area’s farming communities led to stores, churches and a post office at the intersection of Falls and River roads, then known as Offutt’s Crossroads. By the 1880s, the name of the area was changed to Potomac by John McDonald (the county’s first Republican member of Congress) who had bought the nearby Offutt farmhouse and estate on River Road.

POPULATION 47,018

EDUCATION

Locals

Source: U.S. Census Bureau #3 “WEALTHIEST ZIP CODES IN GREATER D.C.” Washington Business Journal in 2021 #4 “BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN MARYLAND”

Niche.com in 2022

“We’re empty nesters … so one of the things we were looking for is a community where it’s not only diverse ethnically, but diverse agewise. It was a community where we would not feel out of place with young families, which there are many of, but there also many people who are empty nesters and retired. It’s a wonderful community in which one can age in place without feeling out of place.”

“I like how close everything is in proximity to us. The grocery store, the post office, the gym -- a lot of the basic necessities that we would need, just your basic things that you would go to on a weekly basis, were right here, without driving 15, 20 minutes to get to.”

PHOTO BY HILARY SCHWAB

Devang Shah, partner with corporate immigration law firm Shah and Kishore

Ami Patel Shah, managing director at Fortress Investment Group

Devang and Ami Patel Shah in their Potomac home

Rockville/ North Bethesda

ONE OF MARYLAND’S oldest towns, Rockville is nonetheless a quintessentially 21st-century American suburb: From the busy Rockville Pike with its big-box stores to its comfortable homes and quiet cul-de-sacs, Rockville, the second-largest city in Maryland, is a study in contrasts. Rockville somehow manages to be both a fitting setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s burial site (at Old St. Mary’s Church) as well as an attractive magnet for vibrant new immigrant communities. Rockville

Town Square, with its broad plaza, public library and pedestrian-friendly shops and restaurants, serves as the city’s downtown. In next-door North Bethesda, Pike & Rose, a multiuse development, continues to grow since opening in 2014. The neighborhood of restaurants, stores, entertainment venues and housing provides a modern vibe to the area at the corner of Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

In 1776, Montgomery County was carved out of Frederick County and the county seat was located at Hungerford’s Tavern on what is Rockville’s Washington Street today. In 1801, a few months after the nation’s capital moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., the Maryland General Assembly established the settlement around the Montgomery Courthouse as Rockville because of its location close to Rock Creek.

A skating rink creates a festive vibe at Rockville Town Square.

POPULATION 68,079

Locals

Diego Uriburu executive director of Identity Inc., a nonprofit serving at-risk Latino youths

#2 NORTH BETHESDA: “BEST SUBURB TO LIVE IN AMERICA”

”

“

“I like my neighbors in Rockville and the character of the city. It’s a very green city and it’s easy to walk around. I do my shopping by bike. Walking, biking, swimming—Rockville is extremely inviting on those fronts. Also, it’s very diverse in terms of race, ethnicity and age. It’s an amazing jewel within Montgomery County.”

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Silver Spring

SILVER SPRING IS KNOWN for its rich diversity of dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation, as well as for tranquil neighborhoods filled with brick colonials and pedestrian-friendly streets. You’ll find longtime residents, recent immigrants, young families and single professionals. A mix of ethnic and racial diversity, the unincorporated suburb has neighborhoods such as Woodside Park near downtown Silver Spring, where the average home sales price was about $850,000 in 2022,

and Connecticut Avenue Estates, farther out, with an average sales price of about $440,000. With a boom in residential options and the nearby transit center plus new shops and restaurants, the downtown area is the place to be on weekends. There’s likely to be something going on, whether it’s a farmers market or a musical performance at Veterans Plaza or families enjoying splashing in the large fountain on Ellsworth Drive.

PHOTO BY MARKETA EBERT

According to one story, newspaper editor Francis Preston Blair and his daughter Elizabeth were horseback riding one day in 1840 on what is now Georgia Avenue. Elizabeth fell from her horse, which trotted away and was later found drinking from a mica-infused spring. Blair liked the spot so much that he bought 250 acres and built his summer estate there. Taking inspiration from the water’s sparkling appearance, he named the place Silver Spring.

This mural and others add an artistic touch to downtown Silver Spring.

POPULATION 81,015

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Lysette House deputy director, Friends of the Library, Montgomery County Chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board

“

”

“Walkability is really our major thing. We can walk to anything we want to do here. We can walk to the movie theater, we can walk to get a great cup of coffee. I love the diversity of offerings.”

Cabin John & Glen Echo

CROSS THE SINGLE-LANE

stone bridge to Cabin John, bordered by the C&O Canal National Historical Park and the Beltway, and you feel like you’ve traveled through time as well as space. Its housing stock of about 900 homes includes everything from Sears houses from the early 1900s to modern mansions. Residents meet for a weekly coffee klatch at The Market on the Boulevard, and it’s not uncommon to see kids riding their bikes to the nearby Potomac

River and C&O Canal with fishing poles and buckets of bait. The community has a neighborhood pool and the Clara Barton Community Center run by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation. The center offers activities, has an exercise room and runs a summer camp and special events. A symbol of the community’s commitment to its residents, the Neighbor 2 Neighbor program helps residents age in their own homes by providing volunteers to perform such

tasks as gardening, cooking, making home repairs, paying bills, preparing tax forms and providing transportation.

STARTED IN 1889, the Town of Glen Echo is a chartered town, with its own mayor and ZIP code, that resides along the west side of MacArthur Boulevard. Glen Echo borders the C&O Canal, Glen Echo Park and the Clara Barton House, named for the founder of the American Red Cross who called Glen Echo

home from 1891 until her death in 1912. Streets are named after universities in the United States, such as Princeton Avenue and Harvard Place, and many of the homes here date back to the late 19th- and early 20th-century. Glen Echo Park offers many opportunities for fun, including a puppet theater and Adventure Theatre MTC, a renovated 1921 Dentzel Carousel and the Spanish Ballroom, which offers dance classes and holds dances year-round.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

CABIN JOHN PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN; GLEN ECHO PHOTO BY JOHN SONDERMAN

Potomac River in Cabin John

The Dentzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park

Locals

“We fell in love with Glen Echo Park. Our kids are young, but we saw them growing into all the activities and programs. Sure enough, in the last three years since we moved here, they have taken advantage of Washington Conservatory of Music lessons and attended Adventure Theatre. The carousel is probably the No. 1 thing we have to show off whenever anyone comes for a playdate or from out of town.”

Mona Kishore vice president of business development for travel technology company Roadpass Digital

Locals “

““We appreciate the close-knit nature of the neighborhood. It feels like a small town. When we moved in, people were incredibly friendly and made sure we felt connected to the community. I really like how much pride the neighborhood has in itself and how people look out for each other.”

Allie Reschovsky hospital counsel at MedStar Health

“We go to the Cabin John Crab Feast and have run in the Turkey Trot around the neighborhood on Thanksgiving. We love being able to walk along the towpath and the Potomac River on one side [of the neighborhood], and the Cabin John Creek trail on the other. It’s a very different environment than you’d expect being so close to the city.”

Ben Reschovsky physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

Ben and Allie Reschovsky with their baby Hailey

Mona and Ayan Kishore with their daughters Riya (left) and Alya

BOB GRAVES

Associate Broker, Team Leader

• 43+ years in Real Estate

• Retired Educator after 34 years

• Specialize in listing and selling, love to renovate a home and see it sold

301.538.9337 | Bob.Graves@LNF.com

N Potomac-Rockville Office 301.975.9500

Realtor®

• Over 12+ years in Real Estate

• Licensed in Maryland and Ohio

• Speaks: Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, English

• Specializes in interior design and finding economical deal for clients

301.537.3328 | Najam.Chaudhry@LNF.com

DEBORAH CHESHIRE

202.288.9939 | deborah.cheshire@LNF.com thedcteam.com

Licensed in MD, DC & VA

Deborah is an award-winning Realtor® and leader of The DC Team at Long & Foster. Having lived and worked in Bethesda for many years, she has intimate knowledge of all the communities in DC, MD & VA.

Moreover, The DC Team comes with a full cadre of services from building a new home to craftsman for your home repair/ renovation needs to lenders for help in all financial situations, as well as staging, marketing and negotiating skills second to none.

The DC Team was #1 in closed volume in our Bethesda Gateway Office in 2021.

We can do it ALL and we’re here to help in any way we can. Give us a call!

PHYLLIS PINTO

Realtor®

• Over 10+ years in Real Estate

• Retired from health care industry

• Licensed in Maryland and Virginia

• Highly recommended, dedicated to client services and attentive negotiations

301.520.3758 | Phyllis.Pinto@LNF.com

NAJAM CHAUDHRY

ANDY FUNT

c 240.383.6388 | o 301.907.7600

AndyFunt@LNF.com

Connecting the dots of preparing a home for sale is Andy’s specialty. Working directly with Sarah and the team of professionals for over a decade, he knows what it takes to get a home SOLD and is well positioned to carry the business forward. Targeting specific needs and tasks in each home, from kitchen renovations to exterior landscaping and everything in between, increases sales opportunity and results in more interest, offers and ultimately higher sales prices. Any agent can sell your home but a specialist realizes the potential in often overlooked and under-utilized areas of a home.

“The Funt Team deserves 10 stars! We were looking to sell our home in the hot real estate market. We interviewed two other agents and hired them for local knowledge, marketing approach and attention to detail. We appreciated the frequent communications on the status of this sale. The team was very responsive and professional and listened to our needs and expectations. They were great to work with and answered every question. We closed in a few weeks and cannot say thank you enough.”

BANNER TEAM

301.365.9090 | o 301.907.7600

Info@BannerTeam.com | BannerTeam.com

As one of the most successful, award-winning teams specializing in luxury properties, The Banner Team agents pride themselves on their unsurpassed commitment to clients. Recognized locally and nationally, they provide a “team behind every transaction,” striving to meet all their clients’ needs while making buying and selling real estate both enjoyable and rewarding.

This dynamic, hard-working team is committed to excellence in all they do. Whether you want to buy, sell or custom build, they have the expertise to guide you — with success in any market.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Over $180 Million Sold & Settled, 2021 • Top Producer, Bethesda Magazine, 2021 • Best Realtor Team, Washingtonian, 2021 • #1 Group in #1 Long & Foster Office, 2010-2021 • #1 Medium Real Estate Team, Maryland, REAL Trends, 2021 • Top 100 Real Estate Teams, U.S., REAL Trends 2021 • Top Vote Getter, Best of Bethesda Real Estate Team, 2022 • Donated More Than $118,000 to Local Charities, Pay it Forward Program, 2017-2021

Readers’ Pick: Best Brokerage for Luxury Homes

Front Row: Brooke Bassin, Michelle Teichberg, Wendy Banner, Julia Fortin, Ilene Gordon Back Row: Gail Gordon, Jody Aucamp, Ashley Vonada, Pat Karta, Emily Moritt

Home Sale Highlights

A snapshot of last year’s housing market in our area

Highest Average Sale Price in 2021*

BRADLEY FARMS

Bethesda Chevy Chase

Potomac

Chevy Chase

Bethesda

Chevy Chase

ZIP Codes ZIP Codes

Where Houses Sold the Fastest in 2021*

Garrett Park

Bethesda

Kensington

Gaithersburg/North Potomac

Bethesda

Data is for single-family homes and was provided by Bright MLS and MarketStats for ShowingTime. Statistics generated on Jan. 10, 2022. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Some numbers have been rounded.

DEB LEVY

SENIOR HOME LENDING ADVISOR, CHASE

With 35 years as a Senior Home Lending Advisor, Deb specializes in lending to selfemployed clients, vacation home financing, condo and co-op lending, first-time homebuyer programs, and conforming loans and jumbo mortgages. A Chase National Achiever, “A Top Vote Getter” for Best Mortgage Broker, Bethesda Magazine Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll, 2017, 2021; Top Mortgage Broker, 2012 – 2015; and Washingtonian Top Mortgage Professional, 2019 – 2022.

Senior Home Lending Advisor, Chase

NMLS ID 481255

1401 New York Ave. NW

Washington D.C. 20005

202-702-3262

deb.levy@chase.com

homeloan.chase.com/deb.levy

Q: What do your clients and customers want to know about most?

A: After 35 years in mortgage lending I can safely say that purchasing a home is like hopping on the fastest roller coaster ride at the amusement park. It's no slow train across country, for sure. While much information can be found on the Internet, there is more misinformation than not and the Washington metro area is unique in and of itself.

Many of our clients want to know solely what the rate is and, while rate and monthly payment is super important, it’s also vital to feel a sense of education and knowledge in the process. That's why we like to focus on borrowers as individuals and take a truly consultative approach to determine all options for financing and help the borrower to identify what makes the most sense for them.

This approach has earned our team lifelong clients as well as the adult children of lifelong clients. Chase is a full-service national bank and, with COVID and new work-from-home approaches, many of our clients are also moving to other parts

of the country. It’s been really exciting for them and us to be a part of their transition to a new home as well as welcome newcomers to our community. The benefit of being a part of the One Chase Team is that we can work with our bank partners to help our borrowers with their banking and investing. Ultimately, it’s about being comfortable and getting a great rate!

LISA BENNETT, ASSISTANT DEB LEVY, SENIOR HOME LENDING ADVISOR

FROM LEFT:

Deb | Senior Home Lending Advisor CPC | All home lending products are subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. Home lending products offered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ©2022 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Barbara Nalls

VICE PRESIDENT

TTR | SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

Awards & Honors:

TTR Top Individual Agent, Bethesda Office, 2018 - 2021; TTR Top Individual Agent Montgomery County 2021; Top Producer Bethesda Magazine 2019 - 2021; Top Agent Washingtonian 2014 - 2021; Top Montgomery County Listing Team, L&F, 2014

4809 Bethesda Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 Office 301-516-1212 | Direct 240-602-9035 barbaranalls@gmail.com www.barbaranalls.com

Q: What strengths do you bring to your real estate practice?

A: I consider working with clients to be a partnership: Whether it’s a first meeting, or clients who have become family, I see us as a team that wins together. That’s particularly important when making decisions of significant consequence very quickly in this fast-paced market.

I am a strong strategic thinker: The most important thing I bring to our partnership is the ability to apply my decades of experience to the specific needs and situations of my clients. It’s important to look at the big picture as well as the unique details, keeping both top of mind. I like to think this has saved clients a move—or two—over the years.

I meet people where they are: Everyone moves for a reason, and that reason is as important to me as the home inspection report. I care about all my clients and want the experience of buying or selling a home to be the best it can be for them.

I’m a big fan of everyone walking away happy: But I also like to know that my client’s priorities, whether price or terms, carried the day.

Q: How would your clients describe you?

A: A client once wrote a recommendation calling me her "house-buying big sister," which I love. I’ve won some pretty big awards, but I don’t know how I could top that.

Dana Rice Group

Led by Executive Vice President Dana Rice, Dana Rice Group provides unmatched expertise in local real estate markets, along with a client-centric focus that is emulated but never duplicated. Dana and her team are both professional and fun, creating unique and memorable experiences for buyers and sellers alike.

5741 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300

Chevy Chase, MD 20815

M: 202-669-6908 | O: 301-298-1001

dana.rice@compass.com www.danaricegroup.com

Q: Why should you trust us with your real estate goals?

A: Selecting your Realtor involves much more than choosing an agent based on geography or a postcard. Our advice is to select the person you want by your side when market conditions are good – or not so good. It’s important to see your Realtor as an ally – someone who’ll head into battle with you, fight for your best interests and proactively guide you from start to finish. Our job is to prove to every client that we are their trusted partners and confidants, and that we’ll pursue their goals with an unwavering focus.

Q: What sets the Dana Rice Group apart?

A: Our award-winning, 100%-complimentary staging services, of course! Our sellers have the competitive edge in a very active real estate market. Whether it’s just adding a few pillows or staging an entire home, Dana Rice Group’s on-staff staging designer will work with you to present your home in its best possible light.

And we’re not just about pretty houses! Our team empowers clients with our in-depth market knowledge and end-toend service. We purposely work with both sellers and buyers to ensure our exposure to strategies on both sides of the table. With more than 150+ transactions closed in 2021, our team has seen how other agents structure their offers on our listings and how our sellers react. We understand what strategies are most successful and which ones fall flat. This ensures that our clients are competing from a position of strength.

Mary Noone & Trent Heminger

Q: How has COVID changed the real estate market?

5471 Wisconsin Ave., 3rd floor Chevy Chase, MD 20815

M: 240-461-3928 | O: 301-298-1001

mary.noone@compass.com www.trentandco.com

A: In 2020, more buyers were competing for fewer homes on the market. The median sales price was up 9.8% in Bethesda due to a drop in inventory of 14.7%. But to us, the bigger message was the way COVID changed our definition of “home.” It’s no longer just an asset, wealth builder or a place to sleep; it’s a place for work, play, school – even vacation. It’s where we can find comfort in a sometimes scary world. It’s the total package.

Q: How do you recommend buyers and sellers navigate this competitive market?

A: The best way to succeed is with a well-executed plan. For buyers, this means connecting with an agent early in the process. They may not realize that the seller pays all the commission and in Maryland, buyers must have representation. There isn’t a buyer who

wins in a multiple-offer situation who wasn’t backed by a strong, seasoned agent fueling a great strategy for their client. For sellers, the best way to gain a competitive edge is by investing in smaller things that will yield larger returns – like updating a light fixture or renting a storage unit to declutter a home. These things can easily add an extra $25,000 to a sales price. Today, more than ever, buyers prefer a home that’s move-inready. Our job is to advise sellers on those things that will attract buyers and add value to their home. We support them throughout the process to make it easier for them.

“Since COVID, your home is not only your most valuable asset; it’s where your life is centered. It really is your everything.”

Elisabeth Gelos

LONG & FOSTER | CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

“I‘ve lived in six countries, I speak five languages and moved to the D.C. area in 1998. This experience is particularly valuable when understanding and meeting the needs of a diverse clientele.”

20 Chevy Chase Circle NW Washington, D.C. 20015 Office: 202-364-1300 | Direct: 202-367-6635 egelos@longandfoster.com www.elisabethgelos.com

Q: What makes your client experience unique?

A: My clients receive very personalized service. I listen to them at each step. I provide frequent, specific communication and feedback. I offer tailored professional strategic planning, advice and guidance through the entire transaction. Belonging to a large, prestigious firm allows me to draw on huge resources such a company can offer. Most important, I believe clients deserve one person handling their transaction in its entirety, because every detail matters.

Q: : What do you find most satisfying about your job?

A: I have always enjoyed solving problems involving complex issues with different people and personalities. I’ve honed my skills in this regard starting early in my career when I was a staffer in the German Parliament. Buying a home is not only an overwhelmingly complex endeavor, it is also likely the largest financial transaction of their lives for most people. It is a great feeling to be able to help my clients realize their dreams by being their trusted personal advisor. Successfully applying my knowledge of the local market, my experience and my dedication is hugely gratifying.

Q: What is the biggest challenge in your job?

A: The goal in today’s market is to win, and for that you need detailed planning and a personalized strategic approach. Having a network of competent professionals, including lenders, inspectors and other vendors is critical when time is of the essence. Crafting a winning offer when sellers receive five to 15 offers in our tight inventory market is a significant skill. I thrive on that challenge.

Cara Pearlman, Executive Vice President

CARA PEARLMAN GROUP, COMPASS

Named one of Washingtonian’s Best Agents from 2016-21, Cara draws upon extensive knowledge of the local real estate market and nearly 20 years of industry experience to counsel clients through buying or selling a home. She is a skilled negotiator, powerful advocate and always prioritizes her clients’ best interests.

5471 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815

202-641-3008

Office: 301-298-1001

cara@compass.com

www.dcsuburbhomes.com

Q: What has been an unexpected surprise in your work?

A: I started my real estate career in 2003 as an assistant to a successful team. Though I had ambitions for growing my career, taking on more responsibilities and becoming the best Realtor I could be, I never envisioned running my own team. However, instead of slowing my career, having children helped me become more comfortable in my skin and gave me the confidence to build my own business. Becoming a parent — I have a 10-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son — allowed me to see better the value I bring to the table and lit a spark within me. It's easy to let major life events deter us and pull us away from our professional goals. But if anything, I'm a better mom because I work, and I'm very proud of what my team and I have accomplished over the past six years.

Q: Why do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you?

A: I often hear people say that getting referrals is the highest compliment. For me, however, it's when clients update me on their lives. I love getting baby announcements and invitations to birthday parties, pictures of kitchen renovations or reorganized closets. I cherish the intimacy of real estate; I have the unique opportunity to help people choose the four walls within which their lives will unfold. Seeing the joy and excitement on my clients' faces when they have found their home base is pretty amazing.

Jill Schwartz Group, Principal

THE JILL SCHWARTZ GROUP

"As one of the top agents at RLAH Real Estate and in the DMV, I offer a wealth of knowledge about the D.C. metro real estate market, an extensive understanding of the demands of an upscale clientele and an elite network of contacts."

4600 N. Park Ave. #100 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-758-7224 | JillSchwartzGroup@gmail.com www.JillSchwartzGroup.com

Q: What is the one thing your clients should know about you?

A: I pride myself on my approachability. I am always on standby to grab a Starbucks and talk RE shop. I am most proud of my personal referral network—a testament to so many happy clients. I specialize in ultra-luxury listings. As a social media influencer, I have the channels to showcase estates to garner multiple offers and higher net returns for my sellers.

I strive to anticipate the needs of my clients, personalize every interaction and bring each client's vision to life. Although every home I help to buy or sell is different, the personalized, passionate service for each client remains constant.

Q: What makes you different than other agents?

A: I am the go-to Realtor representing Washington Wizards players and their families. When players are traded, it’s usually a very aggressive timeframe for families to get settled, and I specialize in boutique, hands-on representation from day one.

With over $600 million in career listings and sales, I’ve created a global reputation as a top luxury agent for Potomac, Bethesda, Georgetown and McLean. Not only am I licensed in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, I’m also licensed in Florida, so I have more range than many in the industry.

Q: Interests outside of work?

A: I am training my English Goldendoodle, Yogi Bear, to be a service dog! I’m also being trained as a service dog trainer myself. I love to work out and I’m an avid golfer at Woodmont Country Club.

Susan Verner

REALTOR, LONG & FOSTER PARK POTOMAC

12500 Park Potomac Ave., Suite 101S

Potomac, MD 20854

301-469-4700 | D: 240-381-8853 | Twitter @SusanVerner

susan.verner@longandfoster.com | www.susanverner.realtor

Q: What makes you different than other agents?

A: For me, it’s all about the people and places we call “home,” especially as “home” has new meaning in this challenging time. Whether helping maximize your sale or find your new nest, being your Realtor requires a unique skillset. While we act as advisors on the important nuts and bolts of each transaction, including marketing, staging, showings, contracts, paperwork and contingencies, home purchases and sales are personal. With years of experience buying and selling homes, I bring my steady hand and strong negotiating skills developed as a California lawyer. I also bring empathy, patience and care to ensure the best possible outcome. Success for my clients is my “why.”

In my clients’ own words:

“Susan surpassed all our expectations.” “[Her] negotiating skills are second to none.” “[H]ardworking, detail oriented, and highly professional.” “We will never buy or sell another property without Susan as our Realtor.”

The Calkins Group of Compass

TONY CALKINS, TRISH SWEENEY & TYLER CALKINS

Our philosophy is simple: clients come first. We pledge to be in constant communication with our clients, keeping them fully informed throughout the entire buying or selling process. We know they’ll have an amazing experience working with us.

7200 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20814

O: 301-798-9838

D: 240-501-1424

tony@thecalkinsgroup.com

www.thecalkinsgroup.com

Licensed in D.C., MD and VA

Q: What do your clients say about you and your team?

A: "The Calkins Group sold my home so fast and for more than I thought I could get. They answered every one of my million questions… and even helped with extras like scheduling contractors, prettying up landscaping and dealing with Washington Gas. They basically hit it out of the park.” - Matthew C.

“Tony is a calm and knowledgeable professional who listens and learns and dedicates the time needed to move on deals in the fast-paced D.C. market.”

-

Jason A.

“Tony is amazingly honest and listens to your needs... he negotiated a deal exactly how I needed it to be with eloquence, warmth and friendliness to the other parties, which was a win for all.” - Lisa W.

Q: How has your background made you so successful today?

A: My background in the news media and on Capitol Hill helped hone my business and people skills, while working as a contractor overseas broadened my horizons. I also have experience in commercial leasing, property management and multifamily development. All these efforts have proven helpful in real estate. I ran my own brokerage firm for several years before joining Compass, where our team is highly focused on making each transaction a wonderful experience for our clients.

HOPKINS & PORTER CONSTRUCTION, INC.

12944-C Travilah Road Ste. 204, Potomac, MD 20854

301-840-9121 | www.hopkinsandporter.com

BIO

For more than 45 years, Hopkins & Porter Construction has transformed the homes and lives of families in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area by providing full scope remodeling solutions, specialized large additions and custom design/build services that not only enhance but harmonize with existing structures and lifestyles.

THE PROJECT

At Hopkins & Porter, we pride ourselves on quality, creativity and superior service. Our staff of award-winning designers, seasoned project managers, skilled craftsmen and handymen can handle any remodeling challenge and all your home improvement projects. Whether you need a whole house refresh, addition, kitchen, bathroom, home office, exterior renovation or need to create multi-functional spaces in your existing home, we can help. Let our designers guide you with selections that will complement the spaces in your home; whether your style is a contemporary kitchen that embraces neutral palettes or a traditional bathroom with detailed, vintage features. From start to completion, our consultative design/build process provides each client with a single point of contact and ensures that even the most complex projects remain focused, efficient and hassle-free. A professional remodeling experience and creating a client for life is always the top priority at Hopkins & Porter Construction. It’s the way we care.

THE PALISADES OF BETHESDA APARTMENTS & PENTHOUSES

4835 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814

301-725-4723 | thepalisadesapts.net

BIO

Since 1965, the name Southern Management has been synonymous with quality, service and value. Whereas other companies may simply manage or own their apartment communities, Southern Management does both—assuring the highest standards in the business. It’s what makes us the leader in apartment home living, and your first choice when searching for the perfect community.

THE PROPERTY

Step inside The Palisades of Bethesda and you are immediately surrounded by indescribable luxury and charming sophistication. Boasting a premier location on the corner of Cordell and Woodmont avenues, this beautiful high-rise promises a living experience far exceeding expectations. With free concierge services and all utilities included, The Palisades provides a perfect blend of convenience, comfort and customer service. With sophisticated colors and contemporary wood and marble finishes, the lobby lounges and library resemble private clubs while the private fitness studio offers personal training in a windowed, spacious and bright facility—and no fees are charged for any of it. The Palisades is within walking distance of countless shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities, as well as the Bethesda and Medical Center/NIH Metro. The Palisades has established a reputation as one of the most coveted residential communities in the Metropolitan area. Four-time Best of Bethesda winner.

CRAFTMARK HOMES

Address: 1355 Beverly Road #330, McLean, VA 22101 www.craftmarkhomes.com

BIO

Craftmark Homes has been your local hometown builder for more than 30 years now, delivering almost 9,000 new homes throughout the DMV area. Guided by our founder’s passion for superior quality, better living environments and award-winning customer service, we’ve created a long-term legacy of building a lifetime of luxury.

OUR WORK

With our beautifully crafted townhomes and luxury single-family estate homes underway - as well as a few upcoming communities coming soon to Anne Arundel County, Baltimore and prime Virginia locations - Craftmark Homes has exactly what you're looking for in a new home.

We have award-winning garage townhomes at The Retreat at Westfields in Chantilly, VA starting from the upper $600s, and more remarkable offerings coming to Clarksburg Town Center in Montgomery County, anticipated to sell from the $600s. Discover active adult luxury in our newly designed 55+ elevator townhomes at The Village at Cabin Branch in Clarksburg, MD, starting from the upper $600s - elevator included! Experience rare comfortable estate living in one of our impressively designed single-family homes being built at Darnestown Station in Gaithersburg, MD, starting from $1.6M.

Stay up to date with all the latest from Craftmark Homes by following us on social media!

AIDAN DESIGN

Celebrating 20 years in business, Aidan Design is a boutique design firm creating thoughtful living spaces that reflect the unique character and lifestyle of each client. Aidan Design's specialties include kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, built-ins and custom cabinetry.

301-320-8735 | www.AidanDesign.com

AMALYN BETHESDA

A new boutique community in the heart of Bethesda. Distinguished townhome and single-family residences by two of the area’s premier builders: Toll Brothers and Tri Pointe Homes. Amenityrich community convenient to downtown Bethesda and Washington D.C. Opening for sales 2022.

AmalynLiving.com

CARNEMARK DESIGN + BUILD

CARNEMARK specializes in the design, remodeling and restoration of homes and condominiums from initial planning and design through construction and ongoing service. In every project, devotion to the clean lines of modern design flows easily alongside attention to comfort and accessibility.

7550 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 120, Bethesda, MD 20814 www.carnemark.com | 301-657-5000

RESOURCE GUIDE

ANTHONY WILDER

At ANTHONY WILDER, we design and build spaces you can’t wait to come home to. Our in-house architects, interior designers, project managers and craftsmen work together to create custom design solutions so you can live - and love - the life you’ve built.

301-907-0100 | www.anthonywilder.com

CABIN JOHN

Award winning Custom Builder specializing in highly detailed renovations, additions and new homes. Find out just how enjoyable and simple your major home construction project can be.

301-637-3566 | www.cabinjohnbuilders.com josh@cabinjohnbuilders.com

CHASE BUILDERS, INC.

Chase Builders' homes may differ in floor plan and size, but they are thoughtfully designed and well-built for each client. Our goal is to create an inviting, spectacular home where friends and family can gather for many years to come.

301-588-4747 | www.chasebuilders.com Instagram: @chasebuildersinc

RESOURCE GUIDE

ELIE BEN ARCHITECTURE, LLC

An award-winning Architecture firm, designing custom homes to promote a timeless, intuitive living experience. We believe that each project should be unique, representing the owner’s lifestyle. Our goal is to cherish client’s expectations and design a living space that is both inspiring and functional.

202-860-7050 | www.ElieBenArch.com

HARDWOOD ARTISANS: KITCHEN, BATHROOM VANITIES

AND CUSTOM CABINETRY

FISHER LUMBER

Family owned and operated since 1947, Fisher Lumber provides top quality building materials. Our selection includes only the best materials from the brands professionals trust. With an enthusiastic and friendly staff, our focus is outstanding service that exceeds customer expectations.

301-424-6500 | www.FisherLumber.com

HARDWOOD ARTISANS: BESPOKE FURNITURE

Luxurious kitchen, bathroom vanity, and custom cabinetry. Made by hand in Culpeper, VA by the American craftsmen of Hardwood Artisans. In house design services. 45 years in the furniture and custom cabinetry industry. Request your free consultation today.

240-483-0250 | www.hardwoodartisans.com info@hardwoodartisans.com

HOPKINS & PORTER CONSTRUCTION

Hopkins & Porter

Construction has transformed the homes of families through full scope remodeling solutions to their difficult problems. We create custom design/build answers to fit lifestyles and needs. Creating a client for life is our goal. It’s the way we care.

12944 Travilah Road, Suite 204, Potomac, MD 20854

301-840-9121 | www.hopkinsandporter.com

American-made solid wood furniture. Sustainably sourced and crafted by hand in Culpeper, VA. Choose from bedroom, dining, living, office or design your own custom piece. 45 years in business. Contact us today for your free design consultation.

240-483-0250 | www.hardwoodartisans.com info@hardwoodartisans.com

MANION + ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS

Thomas Manion, AIA founded his design firm over 40 years ago. Specializing in custom residential design, we serve the entire Washington D.C. metro area. We value a collaborative approach with our clients, which has helped us achieve multiple design awards.

301-229-7000 | www.manionarchitects.com

MERRICK DESIGN & BUILD, INC.

The highly professional, reliable team of home services experts at Merrick Design & Build has decades of experience with everything from complex structural repairs to drywall repair, gutter cleaning, grout replacement, lighting installation and more.

MERRICK HOME SERVICES

We want to help you make your space the best it can be. Put our 30 years of experience remodeling homes to work for you! Whether it’s an addition, kitchen, basement, or custom project, we’re your trusted experts.

3300 Plyers Mill Road, Kensington, MD 20895 301-946-2356 | merrickdesignbuild.com | dmerrick@mdbi.us

MC ENERGY CONNECTION

Mercury is hazardous! That’s why it’s important to RECYCLE CFL bulbs at the Shady Grove Transfer Station (16101 Frederick Road), or DISPOSE of them at designated retailers, or SWAP them for LEDs at a Montgomery Energy Connection event. Get more info at bit.ly/ recycleCFLs

240-777-7711 | www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org

TOBE DESIGN GROUP

We’re passionate about crafting inspiring spaces in which you live, work and play, and our superior customer service truly sets us apart. Every space has a story. Let us design yours.

New Construction Remodeling Commercial Multifamily Residential

301-656-6600 | www.tobedesigngroup.com

hello@tobedesigngroup.com

3300 Plyers Mill Road, Kensington, MD 20895 301-946-2356 | merrickhomeservices.com | wsulc@mdbi.us

SANDY SPRING BUILDERS

We are the premier custom homebuilder in the area with our integrated, fullservice team. With 40 years of experience and vast portfolio of well-built homes, our happy clients have made us Best of Bethesda every year since its inception. Our expertise is unmatched in the industry, and we are proud to be our client’s “Builder for Life”.

301-913-5995 | www.sandyspringbuilders.com

Essentials

Finding what you need in your new hometown can sometimes feel like searching for your wallet in a large handbag: You know it’s in there, but you can’t seem to put your hands on it. We’re here to help with information on how to contact county offices and frequently used services.

County Government

MC311

Dial 311 for the county’s general information line (or 240-777-0311 from outside the county); montgomerycountymd.gov/mcg/contactus

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, 240-777-0311, montgomerycountymd.gov/exec/index

Montgomery County Council, 240-777-7900, www.montgomerycountymd. gov/council/. The County Council generally meets on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. The council currently has nine members. In the November 2022 general election, the council will expand to 11 members; seven members to be elected by their respective council districts and four others to be elected at-large.

Council Members

President Gabe Albornoz, D, At-Large 240-777-7959

councilmember.albornoz@montgomerycountymd.gov

Evan Glass, D, At-Large 240-777-7966

councilmember.glass@montgomerycountymd.gov

Will Jawando, D, At-Large 240-777-7811

councilmember.jawando@montgomerycountymd.gov

Hans Riemer, D, At-Large 240-777-7964

councilmember.riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov

Andrew Friedson, D, District 1 240-777-7828

councilmember.friedson@montgomerycountymd.gov

Tom Hucker, D, District 5 240-777-7960

councilmember.hucker@montgomerycountymd.gov

Sidney Katz, D, District 3 240-777-7906

councilmember.katz@montgomerycountymd.gov

Nancy Navarro, D, District 4 240-777-7968

councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov

Craig Rice, D, District 2 240-777-7955

councilmember.rice@montgomerycountymd.gov

Voting

Montgomery County Board of Elections 18753 N. Frederick Ave., Suite 210, Gaithersburg, 240-777-8500

Register to vote or find your polling place by visiting www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections

The general election is set for Nov. 8, 2022. The offices of county executive and all council members are up for election.

County Council District Map

County Executive Marc Elrich

Police and Fire

Glen Echo Fire Department

301-229-3200 gefd.org

Kensington Volunteer Fire Department

301-929-8000 kvfd.org

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service

240-683-6520

montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs/

Montgomery County Police Department

301-279-8000

montgomerycountymd.gov/police

Rockville Volunteer Fire Department

In an emergency, dial 911. For nonemergency calls, try the following numbers.

Bethesda Fire Department

301-652-5602 bethesdafire.org

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad

301-652-0077 bccrs.org

Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department

301-365-2255 (Station 10)

301-299-4300 (Station 30) cjpvfd.com

Chevy Chase Village Police Department

301-654-7300

chevychasevillagemd.gov/35/ Police

Libraries

Aspen Hill Library

4407 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville, 240-773-9410

Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library (Silver Spring)  900 Wayne Ave.,  Silver Spring, 240-773-9420

Chevy Chase Library  8005 Connecticut Ave.,  Chevy Chase, 240-773-9590

Connie Morella Library  7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 240-777-0970

Damascus Library  9701 Main St., Damascus, 240-773-9444

Davis Library  6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 240-777-0922

Gaithersburg Library 18330 Montgomery Village Ave.,  Gaithersburg, 240-773-9490

Library Card

You can register for a library card in person at any Montgomery County Public Libraries branch by bringing a photo ID and proof of address. You also can apply online at http://montgomerycountymd.gov/library/ services/registration.html.

City of Rockville Police Department

240-314-8900

rockvillemd.gov/police

Gaithersburg Police Department

301-258-6400

gaithersburgmd.gov/services/ police-services

Germantown Library  19840 Century Blvd., Germantown, 240-777-0110

Kensington Park Library

4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington, 240-773-9515

Little Falls Library  5501 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda, 240-773-9520

Long Branch Library  8800 Garland Ave., Silver Spring, 240-777-0910

Maggie Nightingale Library  19633 Fisher Ave., Poolesville, 240-773-9550

Marilyn J. Praisner Library 14910 Old Columbia Pike,  Burtonsville, 240-773-9460

Noyes Library for Young Children

10237 Carroll Place, Kensington, 240-773-9570

301-424-0310 rvfd.org

Silver Spring Volunteer Fire Department

301-587-3400 silverspringvfd.org

Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad

301-949-9673 wvrs.org

Olney Library 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Road,  Olney, 240-773-9545

Potomac Library  10101 Glenolden Drive,  Potomac, 240-777-0690

Quince Orchard Library 15831 Quince Orchard Road,  Gaithersburg, 240-777-0200

Rockville Memorial Library  21 Maryland Ave.,  Rockville, 240-777-0140

Twinbrook Library  202 Meadow Hall Drive, Rockville, 240-777-0240

Wheaton Library  11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton, 240-777-0678

White Oak Library  11701 New Hampshire Ave.,  Silver Spring, 240-773-9555

Montgomery County Fire Station 28

Utilities

Phone Verizon

1-800-837-4966

verizon.com/home

Gas Washington Gas 703-750-1000

washingtongas.com

Water/Sewer

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission 301-206-4001

wsscwater.com

Trash & Bulk Trash

Electric BGE

800-685-0123

bge.com

First Energy/Potomac Edison

800-686-0011

firstenergycorp.com

PEPCO 202-833-7500

pepco.com

Shady Grove Transfer Station

16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, 240-777-0311

montgomerycountymd.gov

Digital Cable/ High-Speed Internet and Digital Home Phone

Comcast 800-934-6489

xfinity.com

RCN 800-746-4726

rcn.com

Verizon 800-922-0204

verizon.com/home

Poolesville Beauty Spot 19200 Jerusalem Road, Poolesville, 240-777-0311

montgomerycountymd.gov

Recycling Shady Grove Transfer Station

16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, 240-777-0311

montgomerycountymd.gov

essentials Transportation

How to Get Around

Metro (map on page 123)

The Metro has a dozen stops in Montgomery County on the Red Line, which connects the county to Washington, D.C. The Red Line stretches from Shady Grove through the nation’s capital and back into the county, ending in Glenmont. Parking is available at 44 Metro stations. wmata.com/rail

Metrobus

Metrobus’ 400,000 trips each weekday in Maryland, Virginia and the District make it the sixth-busiest bus agency in the United States. For information about schedules and stops, visit wmata.com/bus.

Ride On bus

The Ride On bus system is the most used form of public transportation in the county. Ride On operates dozens of routes, which serve much of the county. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation website lists the routes and schedules: montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-transit.

Motor Vehicle Administration

Bethesda Circulator

This free bus makes a 3.3-mile loop through downtown Bethesda every 10 to 15 minutes. Its 20 stops include the Bethesda Metro station and Bethesda’s public garages. bethesda.org/bethesda/bethesda-circulator

Silver Spring VanGo

The VanGo is a free shuttle service circulating through downtown Silver Spring from the Silver Spring Metro station. silverspringdowntown.com/ transportation/vango-stops

Bike rentals

Capital Bikeshare enables users to rent its signature red bikes from one of hundreds of stations across the region, including dozens throughout Montgomery County, and then return them to another station. In some areas of the county, users can also find dockless bikes available from other bikeshare companies as well as e-bikes and e-scooters. capitalbikeshare.com

There are four MVA offices in Montgomery County, plus one pop-up office that opens once a month in Chevy Chase. Find out which services are offered at each location, along with wait times, at the MVA website: www.mva.maryland.gov/locations

MVA

How to get a driver’s license

New residents must obtain a Maryland driver’s license within 60 days. Bring your out-of-state license, plus proof of your age, identity and residency. You’ll need to pass a vision screening at an MVA office or submit a vision screening form from a doctor.

How to title and register a vehicle

You must register your vehicle within 60 days of moving to Maryland. Generally, you’ll need to provide proof of ownership (the existing title identifying you as the owner), a state inspection certificate and an application form (available on the MVA website). You also must have a vehicle liability insurance policy that conforms to Maryland’s requirements. Apply for a Maryland title and registration at any full-service MVA office, or mail copies of the above documents to the MVA’s Out-of-State Title Unit, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21062.

once a month.)

Vehicle emissions inspection locations in the county

Maryland requires the inspection of a vehicle’s emissions system every two years. Get your car inspected at these two Montgomery County locations. mva.maryland.gov/ locations/Pages/mvabranchesandveiplocations.aspx

Montgomery County, East 2121 Industrial Parkway, Silver Spring

Montgomery County, Central 15910 Chieftain Ave., Derwood

Metro Map

Malls & Shopping Centers

The Bethesda area offers many shopping opportunities that range from shops and boutiques found in pedestrian-friendly centers such as Bethesda Row, Rockville Town Square and Pike & Rose in North Bethesda to those located in more traditional indoor malls such as Westfield Montgomery in Bethesda and Westfield Wheaton. Here’s a sampling of local shopping areas:

BETHESDA Bethesda Row 4950 Elm St., www.bethesdarow.com

The Shoppes of Bethesda 4928 Hampden Lane, www.shoppesofbethesda.com

Shops at Wildwood

10241 Old Georgetown Road, www.shopsatwildwood.com

Westfield Montgomery 7101 Democracy Blvd., www.westfield.com/montgomery

Chevy Chase

The Collection at Chevy Chase 5471 Wisconsin Ave., www.collectionchevychase.com

The Shops at Wisconsin Place 5310 Western Ave., www.shopwisconsinplace.com

Clarksburg Clarksburg Premium Outlets 22705 Clarksburg Road, www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/clarksburg

Gaithersburg/ North Potomac

Downtown Crown Sam Eig Highway at Fields Road, www.downtowncrown.com

Kentlands Market Square Kentlands Boulevard at Market and Main streets, www.kentlandsmarketsquare.com

Lakeforest Mall 701 Russell Ave., www.shoplakeforest.com

rio 9841 Washingtonian Blvd., www.riolakefront.com

Potomac

Cabin John Village 11325 Seven Locks Road, edens.com/property/cabin-john-village/

Potomac Promenade 9812 Falls Road, #201

Potomac Village Shopping Center 9935 Falls Road

The Shops at Park Potomac 12525 Park Potomac Ave., www.parkpotomac.com

Rockville/North Bethesda

Congressional Plaza Rockville Pike and Halpine Road, www.congressionalplaza.com

The Shops at Congressional Village 1701 Rockville Pike

Fallsgrove Village Center 14955 Shady Grove Road, www.fallsgrovevillagectr.com

Federal Plaza 1776 East Jefferson St., www.federalrealty.com/properties/ federalplaza

Montrose Crossing 12055 Rockville Pike

Pike & Rose 11580 Old Georgetown Road, www.pikeandrose.com

Potomac Woods Plaza 1087 Seven Locks Road

Rockville Town Square 200 E. Middle Lane, www.rockvilletownsquare.com

Wintergreen Plaza 815-895 Rockville Pike, www.wintergreenplaza.com

Silver Spring Downtown Silver Spring 916 Ellsworth Drive, www.downtownsilverspring.com

Westfield Wheaton 11160 Veirs Mill Road, www.westfield.com/wheaton

Upper Northwest, D.C. Mazza Gallerie 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, www.mazzagallerie.com

READERS’ CHOICES FOR

Best Fitness, Shopping & Beauty

Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks in 2021 and 2022 for the top exercise facilities, hair salons and other services. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

NEW STORE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Salt & Sundry

Indigo Octopus

BOUTIQUE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Belina Boutique

South Moon Under

The Blue House

Morley

Irresistibles

CONSIGNMENT/RESALE STORE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Reddz Trading

Sunflowers Consignment Boutique

The Growing Years

Remix Recycling Co.

Kid to Kid

FINE JEWELRY STORE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Boone & Sons Jewelers

Secrète Fine Jewelry

Tiffany & Co.

Pampillonia

PLACE TO BUY GLASSES (NOT A NATIONAL CHAIN)

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Wink Eyecare Boutique

Voorthuis Opticians

Apex Optical

Colonial Opticians

PERSONALIZED GIFTS

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Whyte House Monograms

The Blue House

Occasions

Pink Dot Styles

SHOPPING CENTER

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Wildwood Shopping Center

Westfield Montgomery mall

Pike & Rose

Bethesda Row

SALON IN BETHESDA

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Bella Bethesda Salon

Aveda Bethesda Salon & Spa

Franz Sebastian Salon

Salon Nader

SALON IN CHEVY CHASE

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

DESSANGE Paris

Lume Hair Styles

Salon Lofts

Salon Roi

SALON IN GAITHERSBURG

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Alozio Hair

O’HAIR Salon + Spa

Shear Reflections

Salon Red

SALON IN POTOMAC

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Zohra & Zohra [Men]

Bella Moda Salon & Spa

Potomac Hair Design

Samantha James Salon

SALON IN ROCKVILLE/NORTH BETHESDA

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Progressions Spa Salon Store

Kindle & Boom

New Wave Salon and Spa

Oxygen Salon and Day Spa

SALON IN SILVER SPRING

(Readers’ Pick, 2022)

Alchemy Hair Salon

Headlines Hair Designers

Spa Mesu

SALON IN UPPER NW D.C. (Readers’ Pick, 2022)

PR at Partners

Célia’s Salon

Salon Familia

DAY SPA

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

The Woodhouse Day Spa–North Bethesda

Blu Water Day Spa & Salon

The Woodhouse Day Spa–Gaithersburg

Aveda Bethesda Salon and Spa

Ninotch

HAIR SALON

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Bella Bethesda Salon

Kindle & Boom

Progressions salon spa store

Salon Central

Plane Jane Salon

Aveda Bethesda Salon and Spa

Salon Nader

PLACE FOR MEN’S HAIRCUTS (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Seven Locks Barber

Floyd’s 99 Barbershop

Roosters Men’s Grooming Center

Hair Cuttery

Bella Bethesda Salon

Spiro’s Barber & Hairstyling

Bradley Barber Shop

VIRTUAL WORKOUTS DURING THE PANDEMIC (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Pulse Fitness Bethesda

Fit Body Boot Camp

Life Time

Equinox

Park Potomac Yoga

Orangetheory Fitness

FITNESS STUDIO

(Readers’ Pick, 2021)

Pulse Fitness Bethesda

Fit Body Boot Camp

Equinox

Life Time

Orangetheory Fitness

YOGA/PILATES STUDIO (Readers’ Pick, 2021)

extendYoga

Pulse Fitness Bethesda

Sweetbay Yoga

Simon Says Yoga

RTR Pilates (Potomac Pilates)

CorePower Yoga

Park Potomac Yoga

PureFire Yoga

Pets essentials

How to get a pet license

All dogs and cats over the age of 4 months and living in the county need to wear tags that prove they have been licensed and vaccinated for rabies. Pet licenses can be obtained from the county online at licensepet.com/ montgomerycounty, in person at the Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center (7315 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood) or by mail (call 240-773-5900, option 7, to request a form).

Veterinarians issue rabies tags. Rockville and Gaithersburg residents also need to register their pets with their cities. Rockville residents can visit www.rockvillemd.gov or apply in person at Rockville City Police Department, Neighborhood Services Division, 2 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville. Gaithersburg residents can apply in person at City of Gaithersburg Animal Control, 31 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg, or by visiting www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

Dog parks

Black Hill Regional Park

20930 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, 301-495-2595

Cabin John Regional Park

7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda

Dewey Local Park

11720 Dewey Road, Silver Spring

Dog Exercise Area in Green Park

251 Bickerstaff Way, Gaithersburg

Ellsworth Urban Park & Dog Park

621 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring

Olney Manor Recreational Park

16601 Georgia Ave., Olney

Ridge Road Recreational Park

21155 Frederick Road, Germantown, 301-495-2595

Rockville Dog Park at Mattie J. T.

Stepanek Park

1800 Piccard Drive, Rockville, 240-314-8700

Takoma Park Dog Park

198 Darwin Ave., Takoma Park

Wheaton Regional Park

11710 Orebaugh Ave., Wheaton, 301-905-3045

Comprehensive wellness, emergency, and specialty care

Primary CareEmergency CareSpecialty Care

Wellness plans

General surgery

Dentistry

Evening & weekend appointments

Puppy and kitten care

Senior care

Open 24/7/365

Board-certified criticalists

On-site Diagnostics

Intensive Care Unit

Dermatology

Neurology

Oncology

Rehabilitation

Specialty surgery

Dialysis

Ophthalmology

And more!

Friendship provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive services for our clients and patients. But, more than that, we provide a caring team who understands the unique human-animal bond.

Friendship is open 24 hours every day and has been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association for over sixty years.

PHOTO BY JAMES MERTZ

Picture show

Lou Giacchino, who has been a weekly volunteer at Brookside Gardens for more than 20 years, checks on plants in the propagation area of a production greenhouse. A Silver Spring resident and former vice president of the Potomac Rose Society, he says he’s always learning something new as he works alongside the professional gardeners in the greenhouses and the Rose Garden.

PHOTO BY LAURA CHASE DE FORMIGNY

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As you settle into a new community, nding trusted local resources can be a challenge. For the past 30 years, we’ve been honored to serve the people and businesses of Montgomery County as your friendly, hometown law rm. Whether you need to update your estate planning, start a business, get assistance with a family law issue or just need reliable legal advice, we can help.