Chopt

My sister Ana and I were in need of a place to grab a quick lunch so we tried a new salad place in Bethesda called Chopt. It’s basically a make-your-own-salad bar except that you don’t actually make it yourself – the person behind the counter does it for you.  I’m sure that clears up some health concerns for those of us who don’t want to pick up any unwanted germs.  You just choose your salad type, select from the numerous amount of toppings, and finish with a dressing. My sister went for the classic chicken Caesar salad while I went with romaine lettuce, croutons, avocado, and vinaigrette dressing. You can take your salad to go or eat-in. We decided to sit down for a few moments to enjoy our salads. Ana is a chicken Caesar salad connoisseur and she thought her salad was perfect.  I loved mine as well.  The avocado  in particular was fresh and delicious with the vinaigrette dressing. Overall, Ana and I were very happy with our choice of salad and we will go back to try something new at the “they make it for you” salad bar.

Eat Here Maybe?  Yes

10307 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814

(240) 752-9942

Chicken Caesar Salad

Avocado Salad

New for BBQ

Barbecue fans will be happy to hear that a new barbeque restaurant opened a few days ago in Bethesda. It took over the former Asian Café and has transformed it into a fun new restaurant for barbeque fans. The new joint is called Smoke BBQ. They will be serving house-smoked pulled pork, beef brisket and smoked chicken. Some side dishes include macaroni and cheese, baked beans, collard greens and corn bread. Personally, I am a big fan of barbeque and I have high hopes for the success of this restaurant in Bethesda.

4858 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814

 301-656-2011

This is 'Maki' me hungry!

Happy 2013!

It’s the start of another new year and I’m looking forward to trying some new or unexplored Bethesda restaurants.  For my first night out in Bethesda this year my friend Dani and I decided to go into town without a destination in mind.  “Let’s just see where we land” was our feeling as we ventured out.  It was a cold night and we weren’t particularly dressed right for the chilly temperature. We were desperate for warmth so we ran into the closest restaurant we could find without a wait for dinner. We found ourselves in a small Asian restaurant called Hanaro. The interior is rather nondescript with subtle touches of Asian decor but the result is a place with a quaint ambiance. 

As we sat down to order we already felt pleased about our selection and hoped the food would follow suit.  We ordered pork dumplings as an appetizer. Dani and I agreed that the dumplings were fine but not great. Compared to another Asian restaurant in the area that we frequent they didn’t have much zip. We hoped to have better luck with our entrees. I ordered chicken fried rice and Dani ordered the Lobster Tempora Roll. She described it as being just ok. She described it as being a little to rich with the combination of sauce and lobster. They were both rich flavors that clashed. Although she did enjoyed the kick from the spicy chipotle! My rice was delicious with a lot flavor in every bite. The chicken was cooked well but was expecting a little more of it in my serving. Personally I would not go back to Hanaro. The food was not bad, but it did not meet my expectations of Asian cuisine. 

Eat here maybe? No

7820 Norfolk Avenue  
Bethesda, MD 20814

(301) 654-7851 

Pork Dumplings

Lobster Tempora Roll

Chicken Fried Rice

Park for Parkers

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas parties are around the corner so you would think that most people would be content to eat in for a while. Well, not me. I am always up for a good dinner out with friends.  I find conversation over food to be therapeutic.  This week I went out with my friends Missy and Heather and we decided on Parkers -- a family owned restaurant in the heart of Bethesda that has been around for some time. It was a cold night and we were happy to rest in the cozy restaurant. It turned out to be the perfect in-between the holidays spot for girl talk and a good meal.

We were all in the mood for chicken that evening-- a bit surprising considering we recently over indulged in turkey, which is a food cousin to chicken right?   Heather ordered a chicken quesadilla, which she claimed was “so good"!  She described the guacamole as perfect and the salsa a little spicy but not too much so. Both Missy and I ordered the chicken sandwich that comes with mozzarella, chipotle mayo and avocado. I decided to just have mozzarella with the chicken while Missy went for the sandwich as offered.  Missy found her sandwich to be “excellent” and went on to say that “The avocado was really fresh and the fries where perfectly salted. I was not particularly hungry when we arrived at the restaurant but I found my appetite as soon as the food came to the table.” The sandwich was cooked perfectly and I ate every bite.  I also had a side of sweet potato fries while Missy had regular ones. Both kinds of fries were very yummy and complimented the sandwich. Overall, I highly recommend Parkers for a casual night out with family or friends.  I hope everyone is enjoying the start of the holiday season!

Eat here maybe? Yes

4824 Bethesda Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 654-6366

Chicken Quesadilla 

Regular Chicken Sandwich and regular fries 

Chicken Sandwich with just mozzarella and sweet potato fries

Asian Invasion

“I’m craving sushi!” was the consensus of my friends this Sunday afternoon. The Redskins lost (again) and clocks were set back so it felt late but we were still motivated for a dinner out.  We had no doubt in our minds on where to go for the best sushi in Bethesda. This place never fails to please our cravings. It's a one of a kind spot called Raku and it's right in the heart of Bethesda. It was a busy night, as usual, and there was no available tables but we found seats at the bar and settled in there. Raku offers a variety of Asian fusion type food but tonight our focus was on sushi.  I ordered the Rainbow Roll (a California roll with sashimi and avocado wrapped around it) and shared a side of chicken and pork dumplings. My friend, Dani, ordered the crunchy spicy tuna roll with tuna sashimi and shared the dumplings. My other friend, Missy, got the california roll with a side of rice. Dani loved her spicy tuna roll and said “The sushi was very satisfying. I was craving sushi and it hit the spot! The spicy tuna roll gets a kick from the sriracha but it is evened out with the coolness from the rice and tuna.” Missy described her meal as “boring" yet if still satisfied the craving. She elaborated by saying, "you don’t need to have an exotic meal to have a good meal.”  My rainbow roll was subtle with fresh pieces of fish and was well complimented by the salty soy sauce. The dumplings came on top of a pineapple star anise sauce. They were quite good.  Raku is one on my Bethesda favorites because the food is consistently delicious and there is almost always a good vibe going on.

Eat here maybe? Yes

7240 Woodmont Avenue  
Bethesda, MD 20814


(301) 718-8681

Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll with shashimi

 Rainbow Roll

California Roll with side of rice

Chicken and Pork Dumplings