Tragara Ristorante Announces Closing

A local Italian institution is moving out to make room for a young new-comer with a fusion twist. 

Bethesda Magazine’s Table Talk blog reports that Tragara Ristorante—“the longtime Italian eatery with an upstairs banquet room that’s hosted many a Bethesda Bar Mitzvah”—will close at the end of this month. A new restaurant with a French-Indian flair will take its place at 4935 Cordell Ave. in Bethesda.

Tragara has served customers for 26 years,  the last 18 of them under the ownership of Claude Amsellem. Issues with Amsellem's health have caused the restaurateur to close the business and cancel any private parties scheduled after October, according to Bethesda Magazine.

Ashish Alfred, a 26-year-old chef and graduate of Magruder High School in Rockville, is scheduled to take over the space, creating 4935 Bar and Kitchen. Alfred is currently accepting applications for the new business.

“The fusion fare at 4935 Bar & Kitchen will include dishes such as tandoori pork chops; mussels and clams steamed in coriander, coconut milk, white wine, ginger, garlic and shallots, and seared scallops with jalapeno quinoa and beurre blanc,” Table Talk’s Carole Sugarman reported.

The new restaurant could open as early as January, but has already started marketing. 4935 Bar and Kitchen staff had a presence at Redwood’s Oktoberfest and Saturday’s Taste of Bethesda, passing out T-shirts and coupons for the new business. The planned restaurant is also accepting applications for all positions. Email Information@4935BarAndKitchen.com for more information.

Sad to see Tragara go? Excited for the new restaurant? Tell us in the comments!