Kraze Burger - Bethesda, MD

Quick update on my last post: I did the Whole30 diet for 4 days and quit because I wanted to die. So here I am back to eating whatever I want, yet practicing moderation...as I write about a delicious burger joint.

Last week before the "Caveman Diet", the bf and I grabbed dinner at Kraze Burger, which is a Korean-owned burger chain. (As I'm typing this post, I just found out it's pronounced 'crazy' not 'craze'.....hmmmm, interesting.)

They recently expanded the place and added a frozen yogurt portion because the last time I was there, this whole section that you're seeing wasn't there. Overall, very bright, clean, green, modern interior.

The place is small (10ish tables and a bar stools along a wall), so we found it interesting that they give you a buzzer to alert you when your food is ready. Slightly unnecessary, but either way, it's cool!

Onto the menu! They use all-natural, pesticide-free, 100% vegetarian fed beef.  You can expect some Korean inspired sauces, however the menu is pretty normal with sides of fries, chili, salads, and sandwiches, except for the side of grilled asparagus, which I found unique.

I ordered the the Matiz (beef patty, grilled, onions marinated in Kraze BBQ sauce, American cheese, bacon, pickles, tomato, mayo and lettuce). Yummy! The patty was juicy, and everything together worked well. On the flipside, I didn't like how messy it was because of the sauce (look at the bottom bun), so just get lots of napkins.

The bf ordered the Maximum (beef patty, spicy Maximum sauce, bacon, tomato, onions, lettuce, mayo and American cheese), which he added jalapeños. He also found the patty to be juicy. They told us that our burgers would be cooked 'medium', but even though they weren't, they were still fine. He enjoyed the burger though it wasn't as spicy as he wanted it.

As if burgers weren't enough food, we split Chili Cheese Fries (crescent fries topped with chili and cheese). I've had their regular fries before which are skinny. They use thick-cut fries for this dish because they can withstand the toppings. I felt it was the best chili cheese fries I've had, however the bf still thinks Ben's Chili Bowl is a bit better. 

Solid burgers that we think are at the top of our MoCo list. Size-wise, the burgers are slightly smaller than I was expecting. The fries I've had are very good. The burgers are around $8-9, which is typical, but pricey since the patty isn't huge. We'd definitely go back.

4733 Elm St.
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 215-9068
www.kraze.us

Haven Pizzaria Napoletana - Bethesda, MD

Bethesda has a new pizza place - Haven Pizzaria Napoletana! The bf and I were invited to check out what makes their pizza different.
Look at all the food bloggers listening to Chef Mark Bergami speak. It's nice being around people asking interesting food questions, and knowing NOT to eat until we've all taken pics =)

The their bar has a gorgeous wine display and their casual, yet upscale decor fits for families, business lunches and dates. 

Other than pizza, their menu consists of Starters: Arugula Salad, Romano Salad, Haven Arance Salad and Have Potato Chip.

The ovens are 'one of a kind'! They have two 1000lb ovens that are 12x12 ft wide and completely coal operated. This picture doesn't do it justice, but they are huge! I wonder how many times people have tripped over or got hit with the pizza peels.

We washed down our meal with Foxen Park Sodas that are very poplar in Haven, CT.

The we tried many of their pizzas but shown below are the Tomato Pie and Haven White Clam Pie (my favorite!). The char on the bottom of the pizza gives it a nice flavor and the dough has a nice chew to it.

I don't know if you can see how they slice the pizza, but it's cut into 4ths, then each 4th is cut into 3rds diagonally. This is to prevent one from folding it like a NY-Style slice. Cool, huh?    

They also make their gelato in-house daily in their Italian batch freezer! It's half the fat of ice cream and have a smooth silky texture.

Definitely a place to check out! 

7137 Wisconsin Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 664-9412
havenpizzeria.com

Take a Bite Out of Breast Cancer at Chef Tony's

As an Ambassador for Take a Bite Out of Breast Cancer, I ate with the bf at Chef Tony's in Bethesda last night. It was a rainy night, but it contributed to the cozy, dimly lit atmosphere.

We went to town on this seafood menu! From the complimentary flat bread to the tiramisu, it was all delicious. We cleaned every single plate. The menu changes daily depending upon what fresh ingredients are available.

I had a chance to chat with Chef Tony and he enjoys giving back! Aside from the 10% each Wednesday in October to this cause, he donates 2% of sales for certain dishes to Help Save the Chesapeake Bay.

From the warm and friendly staff to the high quality ingredients, you can't go wrong with dining there and supporting a good cause.

Stop by Chef Tony's the last Wednesday of October! If you can't make it, check out the other participating restaurants.

For everyone that has already supported, THANK YOU!

BCS Barbecue - Bethesda, MD

I drive past BCS Barbecue everyday on my way to and from work, so the bf and I tried it one lazy weekend. The original Bethesda Community Store has been in operation since 1924 and more recently added this barbecue to their menu in a separate structure practically next door. The place is about the size of a food truck. Located in a small parking lot, there are a few picnic tables if you want to hang around.

Conveniently, the menu is right there! The menu isn't huge but has something for everyone.

We brought our food over to the picnic area and shared it with some employees enjoying the weekend.

The bf decided on the Smoked Brisket Platter (Hearty Potato Salad & Spicy Red Beans and Rice) for $8.50. He found the sandwich to be okay. However, the rice was undercooked and hard, and the beans and potato salad were unmemorable.

I had my heart set on trying the Lobster Roll (Mac & Cheese and Baked Beans) for $17.50. The baked beans weren't tender enough, and the mac & cheese was mushy. I don't have another lobster roll experience to compare this to, but I thought it was boring. Granted it was a lot lobster (hence the price) but it's literally lobster in a hot dog bun. I didn't taste any seasoning or sauce, but maybe that's how they all are?

I haven't found a BBQ place that I love. I was hoping this was it, but it wasn't. We thought the prices were a bit high for food that seemed over or under cooked. I'm all for supporting our historic establishments, but they have a lot to work on. Anyone have a favorite BBQ place to recommend?


8804 Old Georgetown Rd
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-564-1009
11 AM to 7 PM - Seven days a week

Mussel Bar - Bethesda, MD

Even before Mussel Bar had opened in Bethesda, there was a lot of talk about it online. I definitely wanted to try it because I love mussels as it reminds me of my childhood. Located on Woodmont Avenue, there is metered street parking and a metered garage 1/2 a block away. The closest metro station is Bethesda on the red line. They offer some outdoor seating, but it's way too cold for that right now.

Aside from their mussel selection, they offer over 90 different types of beer, which they put on display in the middle of the room. Their bar takes up about 1/2 of the space in the center of the room with dining room seating around it. We ended up sitting at the back of the restaurant, which has a comfy/contemporary-rustic feel. It's a little loud in there, so it's more of a fun, laid-back environment.
They do not take reservations, but our party of 2 was seated in about 15 minutes on a week night for dinner.

My friend and I came specifically for the mussels, which are “Blue Bay” Prince Edward Island mussels. They are served in a big, covered saucepan that the staff opens for you. My friend ordered the 'Spicy Thai (Green Curry)' for $17. All of the mussel dishes are served with frites (fries). She liked the flavor and it was recommended by our server as being one of their more popular flavors.

I ordered the 'Wild Shroom (Pancetta, Parmesan, Truffle Cream)' for $17. I love everything with truffle, so this dish was good, creamy and rich. The mussels were big, opened and cooked perfectly.

Bread was served for dipping into the sauce.

The fries were good because they were crispy and thin with herbs sprinkled on top. Served with mayonnaise, you can also request a bottle of ketchup.

I had a nice dinner with my friend, and our server was nice and helpful. We found the mussels to be good and came with plenty of food. As you can see from the pictures, our dishes look similar and had a similar creamy sauce. I think if I were to come back I would get the classic flavor because it can be hard to eat a large, creamy dish like that without feeling stuffed.

7262 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-215-7817
www.musselbar.com


Monday-Thursday 11:30am-11:30pm
Friday 11:30am-1:00am
Saturday 11:00am-1:00am
Sunday 11:00am-11:30pm
Breakfast served Saturday & Sunday 11am-4pm

Matuba - Bethesda, MD

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit, but life has been busy and I've been injured... let's get to it! I get sushi cravings fairly often, but I don't usually act upon them because it can get expensive. This time the bf and I decided to satisfy our raw fish craving with an All-You-Can-Eat revolving sushi buffet at Matuba. There is metered street parking and a metered garage on the same block. The closest metro stop is Bethesda on the red line.

The restaurant is split up into different sections. The 1st thing you see if the sushi bar, then you walk a bit and see the main dining area. Walk up a loft and you see these tables which fit larger groups.

Walk down some more stairs, and there is the revolving sushi bar! I think it sits around 16 people. $17.95 per person for dinner.

I think it's fun to interact with your food and pick which ones look good as they swivel along by. Like a predator stalking its prey...lol.

They had a lot of non-sushi items on the belt like fried dumplings, salad, chicken teriyaki, tempura, etc. I thought there were more of these on the belt than sushi, which I wasn't a fan of.

As far as the sushi selection, it was very limited to about the ones I photographed, along with a few hand rolls or variations of those below. The quality was sadly very poor. One of the salmon pieces had something hard in it, the seaweed for the handrolls were tough, the fish didn't have a clean flavor, and I saw a few flies land on the plates.

I wanted to take a picture of all of our plates but they kept taking them away! This was about 1/3 of our plates. We wanted to get our money's worth despite the fact I was already stuffed.

This review is only about their sushi buffet. I don't know how their normal menu is. I really wanted to like their buffet because its a cool and fun concept, but the quality was not worth it. The selection of fish was disappointing too. The staff and sushi chef were super nice and friendly though. If you're not picky about quality, then this buffet could be something you'd like. It's cheaper during lunch hours too.

4918 Cordell Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 652-7449
http://www.matuba-sushi.com/matuba/Home_.html

Bethesda Row Fall Restaurant Week: Oct. 18 - 24, 2010

Bethesda Row Fall 2010 Restaurant Week
Monday October 18th – 24th
Two course lunches: $15 | three course dinners: $30

Participating Restaurants: American Tap Room, Café Deluxe, Jaleo, Lebanese Taverna, Parker’s American Bistro, Raku, Assaggi Mozzarella Bar, Mon Ami Gabi, Redwood, Le Pain Quotidien (menu to come), Tara Thai, Taylor Gourmet (menu to come)

Listed below are most of the menus. Sorry if it looks really long and confusing, but there's a lot of stuff!

Jaleo
7271 Woodmont Avenue
301.913.0003

LUNCH
First course:
Choice of:
Gazpacho estilo Algeciras
Sopa de cebolla y tomillo con queso Idiazábal*
Endibias con queso de cabra y naranjas
Ensalada verde con queso Idiazábal
Remolacha con cítricos
Ensalada campera tapa

Entree:
Choice of:
Croquetas de pollo
Patatas bravas (Sliced, fried fingerling potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce and alioli)
Chistorra envuelta en patata frita (Slightly spicy chorizo wrapped in a crispy potato)
Setas al ajillo (Organic Tuscarora Farm mushrooms sautéed with garlic and herbs)
Dátiles con tocino ‘como hace todo el mundo’ (Fried dates wrapped in bacon)
Manzanas con hinojo y queso Manchego (Sliced apples and fennel with Manchego cheese, walnuts and Sherry dressing)
Gambas al ajillo* (The very, very famous tapa of shrimp sautéed with garlic and guindilla pepper
Trucha a la Navarra (Seared trout wrapped in Serrano ham)
Calamares a la romana (Fried squid served with alioli)
Vieiras con calabaza y clementinas* (Seared scallops with butternut squash purée, Clementine, and pumpkin seeds)
Lomo de cerdo con salsa de cabrales (Pork loin with roasted onion and cabrales sauce)
Butifarra casera con ‘mongetes’ (Homemade grilled pork sausage with sautéed white beans)
Pollo al ajillo con salsa verde* (Grilled marinated chicken served with a parsley purée and garlic sauce)

DINNER
Entree:
Choice of:
Sopa de cebolla y tomillo con queso Idiazábal* (Caramelized onion and thyme soup with poached egg and Idiazábal cheese)
Endibias con queso de cabra y naranjas (Endives with goat cheese, oranges and almonds)
Ensalada verde con queso Idiazábal (Mixed greens with Idiazábal cheese, anchovies and garlic anchovy dressing)
Remolacha con cítricos (A salad of red beets, citrus, Picón cheese and pistachios with Sherry dressing)
Pan con tomate y queso Pasamontés (Toasted slices of rustic bread brushed with fresh tomatoes with Pasamontés farmhouse Manchego cheese)
Cebolla asada con queso Valdeón (Roasted sweet onions, pine nuts and Valdeón cheese)
Espinacas a la Catalana (Sautéed spinach, pine nuts, raisins and apples)
Pimientos del piquillo rellenos de queso (Seared piquillo peppers filled with goat cheese)
Garbanzos con espinacas ‘que bien cocinas Tichi’ (Moorish stew of garbanzos and spinach)
Arroz cremoso de setas (Wild mushroom rice with Idiazábal cheese)
Trigueros con romesco (Grilled asparagus with romesco sauce)
Croquetas de pollo (Traditional chicken croquetas)
Patatas bravas (Sliced, fried fingerling potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce and aioli)
Chistorra envuelta en patata frita (Slightly spicy chorizo wrapped in a crispy potato)
Dátiles con tocino ‘como hace todo el mundo’ (Fried dates wrapped in bacon)
Tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelet with potatoes and onions)
Gambas al ajillo* (The very, very famous tapa of shrimp sautéed with garlic and guindilla pepper)
Salmón con coliflor y frambuesa* (Seared salmon with cauliflower purée and pomegranate)
Calamares a la romana (Fried squid served with aioli)
Vieiras con calabaza y clementinas* (Seared scallops with butternut squash purée, clementines, and pumpkin seeds)
Butifarra casera con ‘mongetes’ (Homemade grilled pork sausage with sautéed white beans)
Lomo de cerdo con salsa de cabrales (Pork loin with roasted onion and cabrales sauce)
Pollo al ajillo con salsa verde* (Grilled marinated chicken served with a parsley purée and garlic sauce)

Postres
Choice of:
homemade ice creams
flan
chocolate torte

Lebanese Taverna
7141 Arlington Road
30.951.8681

LUNCH
Hummus

Chose of two of the following:
Cucumber and Yogurt; House Salad, Tabouleh, Shakshouky, Lebanese Salad, Fattoush, Baba Ghannouge, M’saka, or Grape Leaves

Choice of one of the following:
Chicken Shawarma, Shawarma or Falafel

Side of Fries or Rice
Soft drink or Iced Tea

DINNER
Appetizer:
Bathanjen Mikli (Breaded and Fried Eggplant Cubes with Spiced Tomato Sauce
Fattoush)
Lebanese Salad (Pomegranate Extract, Sumac, Radish, tossed with Pita Toasts)
Lentil Soup (A Traditional Soup of Spinach, Potatoes and Lentils)

Entrée:
Lamb Trio  (Rib Roast Chop roasted with Lamb Reduction; T-bone with Three Herb Green Sauce; and Braised Lamb, Spiced Rice and Roasted Vegetables)
Farouge Moughrabieh (Roasted Boneless Half Chicken with Pearl Couscous seasoned with Caraway and Garlic, Traditional Chicken Gravy and Grilled Vegetables)
Whole Broiled Bronzino (Mediterranean Sea Bass over Saffron Couscous and Chickpea Pilaf, Crispy Onions and Citron Sauce)

Dessert:
Molten Chocolate Turkish Coffee Cake (Chocolate cake made with ground Turkish Coffee and Cardamom with a side of Marshmallow and Pistachio-Orange Ice Cream)
Knaffe (Lebanese style cheesecake with golden semolina crust, sweet cheese and a side of Kaak)

American Tap Room
7278 Woodmont Avenue
301.656.1366

LUNCH
Starters
Choice of:
Maryland Crab soup
Soup of the day
House Salad (with choice of dressing)

Entrees:
Choice of:
Steak Frites (Grilled NY strip with garlic herb butter and shoestring potato)
Southwest shrimp salad (Grilled spiced shrimp with corn, tomatoes, avocado, and shredded cheese. Served with house made ranch dressing and tortilla strips)
Grilled Chicken Breast (Served with Italian vegetable medley with a light basil sauce)

DINNER
Starters:
Choice of:
Maryland Crab Soup
House salad

Entrée:
Choice of:
Atlantic salmon (Seared filet of salmon with a grain mustard sauce with asparagus)
Seared Tuna Salad (Sashimi grade tuna with an exotic mix of Asian greens and seaweed)
Chicken Penne Primavera (Penne with fresh vegetables and grilled chicken with Parmesan cheese sauce)
12oz Rib Eye (Served with grilled asparagus and garlic herb butter)

Dessert:
Choice of:
Crème Brulée (A soft creamy custard awaits you under a caramelized sugar shell)
Warm chocolate cake (Made with Belgian dark chocolate and served warm)
Mixed Berries  (Crème anglaise on the side)

Parker’s Classic American
4824 Bethesda Ave
301.654.6366

LUNCH
Choose one from each group from the entire menu:
Soup or starter salad | Sandwich or entrée salad | Dessert

Dinner:
Choose one from each group from the menu:
Soup or starter salad | Choice of three entrees | Dessert

Raku
7240 Woodmont Avenue
301.718.8680
http://www.rakuasiandining.com

Lunch:

Starters:
Choice of:
Mesclun Salad
Ginger Pumpkin Soup

Entrée:
Choice of:
Japanese Hamburger Steak
Korean Grilled Spicy Chicken
Sushi Assortment

Dessert:
Choice of:
Croissant Pudding
Chocolate Cake

Dinner:
Choose 3 out of 4 groups from the entire menu: Soup or Salad | Appetizer | Dessert

Assaggi Mozzarella Bar
4838 Bethesda Avenue
301.951.1988

LUNCH
Choice of:
Ricotta cheese and spinach ravioli (butter and sage sauce)
Italian mild sausage (pickled fennel panino cabbage salad)
Calamari “siciliana’ (with bruschetta)
Pan seared Sea Bass (with braised lentil)
Filet of Trout (garbanzo beans, mussel stew)
Orecchiette pasta with Italian mild sausage (ragu, pecorino cheese)

Dessert:
Choice of
Sicilian style cassata with blueberry coulis
Vanilla crème caramel

DINNER
Starter:
Choice of:
Borlotti beans and pasta soup
Braised Italian mild sausage (with braised lentil)
White polenta with sautéed wild mushrooms (truffle oil)
Arugula and fennel salad (shaved Parmigiano Reggiano)

Entrée:
Choice of:
Orecchiette pasta (artichokes and pecorino cheese)
Short Rigatoni (cauliflower, and wild mushrooms truffle oil)
Ricotta cheese and spinach ravioli (butter and sage sauce)
Sea Bass filet (with mussels, potatoes, saffron broth)
Stuffed quail (with fresh polenta and mushrooms)
Roasted stuffed veal (with braised kale)

Dessert:
Choice of:
Chocolate mousse (with hazelnut granella)
Sicilian style cassata (blueberry sauce)
Vanilla panna cotta

Mon Ami Gabi
7239 Woodmont Avenue
301.654.1234

LUNCH
Starters
Choice of:
Petite Caesar Salad (Romaine, Black Pepper Olive, Oil Crouton and Parmesan)
Roasted Pumpkin Soup (Crème Fraiche and Toasted Hazelnuts)

Entrée:
Choice of:
Steak Sandwich and frites (On Ciabata with Caramelized Onions and Mustards Mayonnaise)
Grilled Salmos and Spinach Salad (Blueberries, Walnuts, Avocado and Citrus Vinaigrette)
Butternut Squash Quiche (Petite Mache and Frisee Salad)

Dessert:
Single Profiterole

Café Deluxe
4910 Elm Street
(301) 656-3131

DINNER
Starters:
Choice of:
Mixed Greens (Mixed greens with shaved parmesan cheese, grape tomatoes& tossed with red wine vinaigrette dressing)
Fire Roasted Tomato Soup (Roasted roma tomatoes, onion and cream)

Entrees:
Choice of:
Halibut (Served over a corn and asparagus sauté with white wine beurre blanc)
Filet Mignon (With grilled asparagus and béarnaise sauce)

Dessert:
Choice of:
Banana Bread Pudding (With vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce)
Mixed Berries with Crème Fraiche (Seasonal assortment of fresh berries)

Redwood
7121 Bethesda Lane
301.656.5515

LUNCH
Starter:
Choice of:
Soup of the Day
Arugula & Baby Beet Salad (Blue Cheese, Citrus, Pistachios)

Entrée:
Choice of:
Grilled Market Fish (Beluga Lentils, Butternut Squash)
Vegetable Pot Pie (Mixed Greens Salad)
Duck Banh Mi Sandwich (Duck Confit, Cucumber Salad, Chilis, Fresh Herbs)

Dessert:
Choice of:
Chocolate Mousse
Caramelized Pears
Today’s Sorbet or Ice Cream

DINNER
Starter:
Choice of:
Soup of the Day
Arugula & Baby Beet Salad (Blue Cheese, Citrus, Pistachios)

Entrée:
Choice of:
Market Fish (Daily Preparation)
Wild Mushroom Papparadelle (Brussels Sprouts, Truffle Butter)
Grilled Pork Loin (Crushed Potatoes, Braised Cabbage, Cider-Mustard Jus)

Dessert:
Choice of:
Chocolate Mousse
Caramelized Pears
Today’s Sorbet or Ice Cream

Tara Thai
4828 Bethesda Ave
301.657.0488 ‎

DINNER
Starters:
Choice of:
Special appetizers or Thai Salad

Entrée:
Choice of:
Green or Panang Curry (with shrimp or seafood only)
Kapow (with shrimp or seafood only)
Pad Kratiam (with shrimp or seafood only)
Whole fish (for 2 people)

Dessert:
Choice of all desserts except (mango & sticky rice 1 for 2 people)

All meals include soda or ice tea. All Entrées except Whole fish served with choice of deep-fried soft shell crab or fish fried and Jasmine Rice

American Tap Room - Bethesda, MD

Bethesda Row has recently opened a handful of new restaurants, so my old college friend and I met up for some good ol' girl time with a side of dinner at American Tap Room. As you can tell by the name, they serve American food and offer an extensive beer selection. There is metered street parking, and a metered garage right next to it on Elm St. The closest metro station is Bethesda on the red line.

Very spacious restaurant. Large chairs, big booths, high ceilings. The bar is circular and has lots of TVs. Reminded me of a modern den with its wood paneling, soft lighting and leather chairs.

I liked the windows into the kitchen!

The menus light up! This was the 1st time I had seen that before. The check does that too. At 1st, I thought it was a digital menu, but it's actually just a paper menu lit up from behind.

My favorite beer was on the menu - Hoegaarden ($6.30)! They offer over 40 beers and over 50 wines on their menu.

My friend ordered a bowl of 'Maryland Crab Soup' for $5.99, which was their soup of the day. She said it was good and I heard no complaints.

My appetizer was the 'Zucchini Fries (served with a Greek yogurt and dill dipping
sauce)' for $8.99. I loved them! They were crispy, hot and tasted fresh with the sauce. I would totally order them again.

We actually asked for bread after our appetizers when we realized other tables had bread. The rolls were nice and warm, however the butter was sweet. Not like "sweet cream" butter, but actually mixed with sugar. It was odd at 1st, but was eventually good and made it taste like a dessert.

My friend loves arugula and ordered the 'Arugula Salad (baby arugula tossed with virgin olive oil and Belgian honey, goat cheese with toasted almonds)' for $7.99. She wasn't sure if the yellow tomatoes tasted like the red ones, but I assured her they were the same. She enjoyed her salad as well.

Our server suggested the 'Southwest Shrimp Salad (grilled spiced shrimp with corn, tomatoes, avocado and shredded cheese, served with a house made ranch dressing)' for $9.99. I loved it. You can't tell, but the shrimp were big and not overcooked. The dressing wasn't over whelming, nor did it appear to be a typical Ranch dressing. I loved the balance and I ordered it because I avocados in my salad. I'd order this again.

I had a nice time with a new restaurant, polite staff, pianist playing on a grand piano and good food. The entrees are in the low-$20's, which was more than I expected. A cool feature was the free homemade cotton candy for the kids! I was jealous. After completing your meal, the server brings a tray of desserts for your viewing pleasure, however they desserts are look plastic, so it was kind of odd/funny,.Its a great place to meet up with friends, bring kids, and grab a drink.

7278 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 656-1366
http://www.americantaproom.com/bethesda

Nest Cafe - Bethesda, MD

One of my coworkers has been raving about this American-Mediterranean inspired restaurant for months, so finally the bf and I had our 1st meal there. Nest Cafe is near all the commotion of downtown Bethesda, but is far enough on the side that it is also peaceful. There is metered street parking and metered garage a block away. The closest metro stop is Bethesda on the red line.

As you can see from the above photo, they have an outdoor eating area. It's almost as big as the interior. The small dining room has nice cozy decor. I love dark wooden tables without table cloths, simple flatware and glasses. There's something casual, yet about classy about it.

My coworker loves their wine selection and 1/2 price bottles on Mondays and Tuesdays, so as a tribute to her, I had a glass of their 'pinot noir (99 Vines Mendencino County CA 07)' for $6.95. There are about 7 wines served by the glass. I feel like my glass had a decent amount of wine, which was great. The wine itself was light, but tasted diluted.

They gave us jalapeno rolls with garlic butter. It was an interesting and unexpected twist considering the menu didn't have anything Mexican-inspired. I don't think I finished mine, but the bf liked them.

The bf ordered the 'Carne Pizza (pepperoni, prosciutto, and sausage)' for $13.95, which was my coworker's recommended dish. The bf thought the pizza tasted like Pizza Hut, though I thought it reminded me of Pandini's. I liked the prosciutto the most out of the pizza and that was his least favorite part (reminded him of chewy bacon).

Ordered the 'Sausage Rigatoni (Slow cooked pork sauce with sausage, fennel and shallots)' for $ 13.95. I subbed Whole Grain penne for $.95. The same sausage that was on the pizza was in the pasta, which I would've preferred without the casing. I thought the sauce lacked depth of flavor, but the bf liked it, so we ended up switching plates halfway through our meal.

Our server was super nice and friendly. Surprisingly our food arrived at lighting speed, which makes me wonder about the food preparation. Lots of families with kids were there, and it was a nice space for them. The food was good but nothing really impressed me, which was a slight bummer because my coworker loves the place so much. The outside has a younger and fun vibe, which is enhanced by the live band that plays Friday and Saturday evenings.

4921 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 718-6378
www.nestwinebarcafe.com