Indoor dining is out, new Potomac sports bar is in — plus holiday meals & gift ideas

Indoor dining was banned at Montgomery County restaurants this week after new rules went into effect on Tuesday night. Takeout, delivery and outdoor dining are still allowed, but tents on the sidewalk must keep at least one side entirely open and space their tables at least six feet apart. Also: No outside dining after 10 p.m. Retailers now have to cap traffic at one person per 200 square feet — maximum 150 people total — unless they get a waiver from the county. Update: On Friday (Dec. 18) the Restaurant Association of Maryland filed a legal challenge to executive orders prohibiting indoor dining in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Baltimore City. Stay tuned.

With all the news about restaurant closings these days, we’re happy to report on an opening: Quincy’s sports bar is ready to make its debut in the former Amici Miei space at Potomac Woods Plaza. “We’ll definitely be open by the end of the year,” says partner John Sahakian, co-owner of the Quincy’s chain as well as two Title Boxing clubs. Sahakian’s team has spent a year renovating the Potomac Woods space, including new finishes, new furniture and new doors and windows that let in more natural light. There are 35 TVs that will be tuned to different games, including three at the outside entrance. Sahakian is still finalizing the menu, which will feature sandwiches, wings, pizzas, flatbreads, wraps, salads, cocktails and 20 beers on tap. If things go well, doors will open around Christmas.

As we wrap up 2020, the retail bankruptcies continue to roll in. Francesca’s, which shuttered its Pike & Rose location last year, is among the latest additions to the Chapter 11 club with more closings planned for 2021. Guitar Center is also in Chapter 11, but the chain expects to emerge this month with most of its locations intact. And Bed Bath & Beyond, which closed its Gaithersburg store this year, is looking to raise more cash by selling off its World Market chain. We’ll likely see another round of store closing in January, after holiday shopping is over and retailers cut their losses.

A weekly guide sponsored by some of our favorite local businesses

 

With new restrictions on dining indoors, it’s more important than ever to support our local restaurants with takeout and delivery. Find some great options in this week’s Store Reporter Guide — with some new additions for winter — plus local stores where you can still get your gifts on time, and much more.

 

DINING & DELIVERY

 

• BROOKLYN’S DELI, homemade meats, soups & sandwiches at Potomac Woods Plaza, 1089 Seven Locks Road. Try our corned beef, hand-carved pastrami, brisket, nova, chopped liver, pancakes from scratch, cheese blintzes & more — plus artisan bagels from Bethesda Bagels. Phone: (301) 340-3354. Open daily for carry-out, catering & patio dining. Menu: brooklynsdelimd.com.

 

• CAVA MEZZE is bringing our family meals, individual meals, salads & drinks to your neighborhoods. Easy COVID-safe pickup at designated locations, including Wednesdays at Kensington Public Library and Fridays at Seven Locks Elementary in Potomac. For contactless curbside pickup from our restaurants, take 10% off when you order through our website. Free delivery through DoorDash. Website: cavamezze.com.

 

• DOWNTOWN CROWN now offers curbside pickup for many stores and restaurants. Dining options include &pizza, Asia Nine, BurgerIM, Coastal Flats, Downtown Crown Wine and Beer, La Madeleine, Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, Paladar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Starbucks & Ted’s Bulletin. 123 Crown Park Ave., Gaithersburg. Call (301) 330-5400 or click here for the latest info.

 

• GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA, Italian favorites at Cabin John Village, 7745 Tuckerman Lane. Full menu and weekly specials featuring pizzas, pastas, seafood, meats, salads & more. Outdoor seating for lunch & dinner, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. We also offer curbside pickup, pay by phone & contact-free delivery. Phone: (301) 296-6168. Also check out our new location at 4611-A Sangamore Road, Bethesda. Menu for all locations: gregoriostrattoria.com.

 

• LAHINCH TAVERN AND GRILL, regional American cuisine at Cabin John Village. We’ve got grilled chops, steaks, salads, sandwiches & more. NFL Ticket: Catch all the games on Sundays with Sunday brunch, bottomless mimosas & bloody Marys. Discounted beer and wine to go, carry-out, curbside pickup & outdoor dining options. Call: (240) 499-8922. Menu: lahinchtavernandgrill.com.

 

• METRO MICROGREENS, locally grown hydroponic microgreens. Eighteen varieties available. High in nutrient density and helps boost the immune system. Stays fresh for 10 days to two weeks. Contact-free delivery. Email mark@metromicrogreens.com or call (301) 706-4884. To order online: metromicrogreens.com.

 

• MOBY DICK KABOBS, Persian cooking on the go. Multiple locations in Maryland & the DMV. Our family platters feed 3-4 people starting at $36.99 or 5-6 people starting at $63. Check out daily specials like khoresht gheymeh (yellow split-pea soup with beef) on Wednesdays & ghormeh sabzi (herb stew) on Fridays. All locations open for carry-out, delivery & curbside pickup. Potomac phone: (240) 660-2626. Rockville phone: (301) 738-0005. Menu: mobyskabob.com.

 

• MOSAIC CUISINE, modern French cooking in Rockville. We have a fabulous easy-to-serve holiday menu with beef Wellington, sole fillet, yule log, etc. Enjoy a waffle sandwich, steak frites, shiitake mushroom soup & much more. Curbside pickup at 186 Halpine Road, delivery with Grubhub or outdoor dining. Order online or by phone: (301) 468-0682. Menu: mosaiccuisine.com.

 

• NORMANDIE FARM, pop on over for fine cooking in the heart of Potomac, 10710 Falls Road. Open for curbside & carry-out service for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Outdoor dining, family-style meals to-go, á la carte to-go & of course our famous popovers. Phone: (301) 983-8838. Menu: popovers.com.

 

• OFF THE HOOK CATERING: The team behind the Go Fish food truck, now offering seafood pickup & delivery every Friday. Lobster rolls, lobster meat with butter, ready-to-cook crab cakes, creamy crab soup, weekly chicken & salmon specials, garlic-roasted green beans, corn bread, Mexi-slaw, fresh-baked cookies & much more. Email: missy@offthehookcatering.com. Menu: offthehookcatering.com.

 

• PIKE KITCHEN on Rockville Pike offers some of the best Asian food in the DMV, all at one location. Instead of franchises, we carefully select operators who are passionate about cooking & creating. From mochi donuts, matcha lattes & bubble tea to bibimbap, bulgogi, ramen, katsu, poke bowls, sushi, pho & bánh mi sandwiches, here you can try it all. Open daily noon to 8 p.m. for carryout & delivery. Visit us: 1066 Rockville Pike. Call us: (301) 603-2279. Menu: pikekitchen.com/carryout-delivery.

 

• POTOMAC PIZZA, a delicious favorite since 1978. Multiple locations in Maryland and the DMV. Potomac location: (301) 299-7700. Traville location: (301) 279-2234. Chevy Chase location: (301) 951-1127. Offering contact-free delivery, curbside pickup & takeout. Sister company Bagels & Grinds also offering bagels, lox & cream cheese pickup in Potomac on Saturday mornings. Menu: potomacpizza.com.

 

• QUARTERMAINE COFFEE ROASTERS, locally roasted fresh coffee. Bethesda store open 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday with drinks, beans & pastries. Use the Quartermaine app or call (301) 718-2853. Also: $5 flat-rate shipping with $30 minimum for beans shipped to your door. Click on the person next to the shopping cart at www.quartermaine.com.

 

• ROSE’S LUXURY: The Michelin-starred D.C. favorite is now offering delivery to our area. Choose two or three nights of impeccably prepared meals, including appetizers, entrées and desserts — $40 and up, per person per night. Your order will arrive with easy-to-follow instructions for assembly and reheating, complete with garnishes, pour-over sauces, dollops of whipped cream and custom Spotify playlists. Menus change every two weeks. Click here for details.

 

• SISTERS THAI POTOMAC, Asian & Thai cuisine + desserts. Pickup and patio dining at Cabin John Village, 7995 Tuckerman Lane. Specialties like chicken satay, larb gai, pad thai, drunken noodles, curry dishes & more. Phone: (301) 299-4157. Free no-contact delivery with $30 to $40 minimum order. Menu: sistersthaicabinjohn.com.

 

• THE GRILLED OYSTER CO., American fare, seafood & drinks at Cabin John Village. 7943 Tuckerman Lane. Try our oysters on the half-shell, crab hush puppies, Angus burgers, poke bowls & the $78 Clambake for two: double Maine lobster, spiced shrimp, steamed clams, corn, potatoes & cole slaw. Now open Sundays noon to 8 p.m., with brunch from noon to 4 p.m. Call (301) 299-9888 or email valerie@grilledoysterco.com to order. Menu: thegrilledoystercompany.com.

 

• WINTERGREEN PLAZA has the stores, restaurants & services businesses you need — all in one place, with free & easy parking. Besides Food Lion, Classic Beer & Wine, Dunkin’ and Starbucks, this is the home of Chipotle, Habit Burger, Jersey Mike’s, Mission BBQ, Niwano Hana, Paisano’s Pizza, Sweet Frog, Ten Ren Tea Ginseng, The Halal Guys & Wingstop. Also: salons, professional practices, Bray & Scarff, The UPS Store, Pure Hockey, Rockville Soccer, TennisTopia & much more. For a full list, click here.

 

• YEKTA Persian restaurant & market. 1488 Rockville Pike. Our restaurant is open for carry-out or curbside pickup, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Call (301) 984-0005 or use ChowNow, UberEats, Grubhub & other delivery apps. Our market is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Carry out or pick up curbside. To place your order, email info@yekta.com or call (301) 984-1190. Menu: yekta.com.

 

Since we’re all going to be hunkered down indoors this winter, the new Lego store at Westfield Montgomery mall has some great ideas for family projects. We got a chance to test out the new art sets, which help you create images of Star Wars characters, the Beatles, Iron Man, Mickey Mouse, Hogwarts or Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe. When you’re done, you can hang up your creation or take it apart and start a new one. The Star Wars set, for example, can be used to create Darth Maul, Kylo Ren or Darth Vader — or buy three kits to create a giant version of Luke Skywalker’s dad-gone-bad. Lego art kids are $119.99 each online, or find them at the Lego store at Westfield Montgomery mall.

If you’re looking for gifts for this cozy winter at home, the Lands’ End store in Rockville is full of great ideas. This year we got to try out the ultimate work-from-home ensemble: flannel pajama pants (with pockets!) and felt slippers with sherpa lining. Throw on a black shirt for your Zoom meetings, and no one needs to know how comfortable you actually are. We also love the company’s classic totes and canvas storage bins. Shop Lands’ End online, or visit the store in person at Congressional Plaza.