Foodie News: DC Diners Trek to Montgomery—And Like It

Get caught up with the food scene in Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods with 1 Meat, 3 Sides. This week, Montgomery County's growing recognition as a dining destination takes center plate.

One meat:

As we all know, DC's suburban food scene frequently outshines that of DC itself. But getting District-dwellers to dine out in the 'burbs is another story.

Eater DC's special guide to dining in Wheaton should help with that. Tim Ebner reported that:

[Wheaton is] a neighborhood strewn together by small businesses, many serving cheap, authentic and simple food. Walk a few blocks and there's a plethora of pupusas, dim sum, salteñas, ramen, gyros, cannolis, haggis, and sushi. Wheaton is a haven for the adventurous diner. Bonus points for those who try the marinated cuttlefish or shredded jellyfish at Hollywood East Cafe.

What's your favorite Wheaton eatery?

Three sides:

In another example of city folk heading out to Montgomery to get good grub, one of the bloggers at Bitches Who Brunch recently tried Rockville's Quench, and gave it good marks:

"The [house-made] biscuits were melt-in-your-mouth moist, unlike any biscuits I’ve had to date." The grilled cheese sandwich (made with Brie cheese, slow-roasted herbed tomatoes and truffled mayonnaise) "will set the standard for all the future breakfast sandwiches I will ever eat."

"The Bitches say: A+. This little gem in a strip mall in Rockville is a true find. Laid back coffee shop ambiance, quality ingredients, and kicked-up comfort food hits the spot," Bitches Who Brunch reported.

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The owner of the former Box Bar in Bethesda is back and planning a live music concept for the Old Georgetown Road space after a recent re-branding effort failed, according to blogger Robert Dyer and a Bethesda Now report.

An effort to re-brand the former Hooters-style sports bar as a family-friendly eatery featuring Dry Fried Wings flopped, with the restaurant appearing closed in recent weeks, Bethesda Patch reported. The opening of the re-re-branded space is set for March 2.

Read more on Bethesda Patch.

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Celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio announced that he'll be opening another restaurant in the newly renovated Chevy Chase Pavilion—a second location for Lunchbox, his popular sandwich shop in Frederick, MD, Chevy Chase Patch reported.

Lunchbox joins Voltaggio's upscale Range restaurant (which opened in December) and the Civil Cigar Lounge, which is catered by the open kitchens at Range.

But one need not wait for Lunchbox to open to get a Voltaggio lunch in Chevy Chase. Range started serving lunch on Presidents Day, Chevy Chase Patch added.

Dessert:

Rita's Crepes—a popular Bethesda Row crepe stand at Bethesda and Woodmont avenues—had to shut down temporarily this past week because consistent freezing temperatures had caused the stand's water lines to malfunction, Bethesda Patch reported. 

It's only temporary, though, and crepe cravers can still get Rita's Crepes at the Bethesda Central Farm Market, held Sundays at Bethesda Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bethesda Patch added.