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Bethesda Dining Guide
Featured Bethesda Restaurants
 Ruth's Chris Steak House
Serious Sizzle
7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
This world famous steak house has a reputation for serving aged, corn-fed USDA Prime steaks that literally sizzle. Ruth's Chris in Bethesda has a great selection of savory appetizers, main dishes and seasonal specialties, and homemade desserts. Home to two banquet rooms, this Bethesda restaurant can accommodate groups up to 60 guests for sit down dinners. Online reservations are suggested.
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Bello Mondo
5151 Pooks Hill Rd., Bethesda MD 20814
A Bethesda dining staple for upscale diners, Bello Mondo serves contemporary Italian cusine in a elegant setting. The signature dish, Cornia al Forno, or Baked Sea Bass, is a must. Bethesda's Bello Mondo also has a full bar and a hefty wine selection.
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Bistro Asiatique
4936 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
Bistro Asiatique offers traditional French culinary art meets the wonders of Asian cuisine. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Cafe Europa
7820 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
Europa consists of two separate parts; a cozy restaurant with homemade dishes, low-key atmosphere and friendly service; and an upscale martini lounge with live music, martini menu and daily happy hours. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Centro Italian Grill
4838 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, Maryland
Centro Italian Grill in downtown Bethesda serves contemporary Italian cuisine, heavy on Northern Italian influences with a dash of Californian cooking, in a chic setting that's decidedly hip. The simple, yet extremely flavorful cuisine is all made using only the freshest ingredients and all of the pastas are made fresh every morning.
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Daily Grill
One Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD 20814
The Daily Grill is a throw back to the classic American grills of yesteryear. The Daily Grill features huge portions of classic American food at a great value. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Grapeseed
4865-C Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland
Innovative in both cuisine and concept, Grapeseed bistro in Bethesda makes its culinary mark by intimately and specifically pairing the finest wines with their always fresh cuisine, both of which change daily. All plates are small so that the wine enthusiast can experience as many different pairings as their appetite will allow, but with so many masterfully done dishes, you'll have to make many visits. Also, almost every member of the staff was trained at the local Bethesda culinary school—L'Academie De Cuisine—so you can be sure their technique, presentation and, most of all, the flavors they coerce from the fresh ingredients will be first rate.
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La Miche
7905 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, Maryland
Country French cuisine reigns at La Miche in Bethesda that innovatively remains on the culinary edge while maintaining the traditional hominess of the French dishes that put it on the Bethesda dining map. The prix fixe menu of courses guides Bethesda diners through some of La Miche's astounding country French dishes and is a great way to sample things you wouldn't ordinarily try. Also, those in the know will dine at La Miche on Sunday evenings when bottles of wine are remarkably half price.
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Meritage Restaurant at Bethesda North Marriott
5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Located in the North Bethesda Marriott, Meritage offers excellent cuisine and elegant surroundings. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Mon Ami Gabi
7239 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda MD 20814
Simple French fare is a study in potent minimalism and Mon Amu Gabi, with its elegant yet provincial atmosphere, serves excellent and satisfying French cuisine, sans pretension. Mon Ami Gabi also offers an varied selection of French wines.
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Morton's, The Steakhouse
7400 Wisconsin Avenue, One Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD 20814
Morton's, The Steakhouse, the nation's premier steakhouse group, specializes in classic, hearty fare, serving generous portions of USDA prime aged beef, as well as fresh fish, lobster and chicken entrees. Morton's is famous for its animated signature tableside menu presentation: steaks, whole Maine lobsters and other main course selections, along with fresh vegetables, are presented on a cart rolled to your table, where the server displays and describes each menu item in appetizing and entertaining detail. The menu features a variety of favorite cuts, including a 24 ounce porterhouse, which is the house specialty; a 20 ounce New York sirloin and a 14 ounce double cut filet. Every Friday and Saturday night, enjoy slow roasted Prime Rib. Morton's Prime Rib is a double cut, served bone-in and roasted to a perfect medium rare. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Old Homestead Steak House
7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814
Famed New York based Old Homestead Steak House brings a reputation for excellence with adherence to quality to the third location of the boutique steakhouse in Bethesda, Maryland. Located in Chevy Chase Bank Building at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and East West Highway, the Old Homestead specializes in four major food groups: Beef!, Beef!, Beef! and Beef! Nationally acclaimed for Prime dry-aged steaks, the Old Homestead is also renowned for its whale-sized lobsters, salads, raw bar, seafood tower and Kobe beef selections including Kobe burgers, steaks and hot dogs! (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Persimmon
7003 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20815
Persimmon Restaurant features Modern American cuisine from Chef and owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore. Located on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, Persimmon has been in Washingtonian Magazine's 'Top 100' list since 1999. Zagat Survey 2005 rates Persimmon as 'Bethesda's Best', 'creative' and 'charming'. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Afghan Restaurants
Faryab Restaurant
4917 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.951.3484
An excellent restaurant that's still kind of a secret in Bethesda is a rarity, but that's just what Faryab Restaurant, serving absolutely delicious Afghan cuisine, is. The unassuming storefront opens up to reveal authentic cuisine that doesn't come off as unapproachable—rather the dishes at Faryab Restaurant in Bethesda are welcoming to the point of hominess. Also, there are many vegetarian options always available for the conscientious diner.
American Restaurants
Café Deluxe
4910 Elm St., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.656.3131
The combination of a family friendly, eclectic American Bistro with a great bar and singles scene shouldn't work, but Café Deluxe in Bethesda does it, and does it well. The menu puts some interesting twists on favorite American classics such as meatloaf with Creole gravy or Gruyere mac and cheese, so your bacon cheeseburger will feel right at home next to your dates Nicoise Salad. Café Deluxe has the charm and familiarity of a neighborhood tavern, but with much more innovative and better food.
David Craig Bethesda
4924 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.657.2484
New American cuisine is the hallmark at David Craig Bethesda where the ambiance is as perfect as the service and one taste of the subtly flavored, richly textured food will have you immediately planning your next visit. Chef and owner Craig has always been known around the Bethesda restaurant scene for his innovation and his new venture does not disappoint in the least. The modern space at David Craig Bethesda with its' almost minimalist décor retains the focus where it's meant to be in a restaurant: the food.
Rock Creek
4917 Elm St., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.907.7625
Rock Creek in Bethesda has to be one of the only restaurants around that is mindful, not only of your palate, but of your body as well. They only use low-calorie, mostly organic ingredients to create their delicious, healthy, nutritionally balanced cuisine that is a tasty alternative to the usual high-calorie fare you get at most restaurants. The elegant setting only furthers the dining experience proving that healthy dining out doesn't have to come with tie-dye and Birkenstocks.
Cajun & Creole Restaurants
New Orleans Bistro
4907 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.986.8833
Authentic French Quarter restaurant dining hits Bethesda in the form of the New Orleans Bistro that features the Cajun and Creole childhood favorites of its chef/ owner. The food here is really top notch, the ingredients fresh and the sometimes overly spiced attempts at traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine you may find elsewhere are thankfully done expertly—flavorful without being overpowering—at Bethesda's New Orleans Bistro.
French Restaurants
Brasserie Monte Carlo
7929 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.656.9225
Decked out in inviting rustic décor, Brassiere Monte Carlo in Bethesda brings together French and Mediterranean cuisine, deliciously and beautifully done at more than reasonable prices. The menu is a little light, but well varied and creative. Brasserie Monte Carlo exudes charm and the collective experience of the kitchen shows better at every subsequent visit.
Greek Restaurants
Athenian Plaka
7833 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.986.1337
For the most authentic Greek cuisine in Bethesda, you can't beat Athenian Plaka. Their executive chef will transport your taste buds around Greece and their knowledgeable, friendly staff will treat you like one of the family. This light and airy Bethesda restaurant has a distinct Euro style, especially on the sidewalk café when the weather's warm. The owners have tried to make Bethesda's Athenian Plaka restaurant a traditional Greek family taverna and they've wholly succeeded with an ambiance that would make Zorba smile.
Indian Restaurants
Passage to India
4931 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.656.3383
Traditional Indian dishes like tandoori roasted meats and spiced veggie entrees are paired alongside decidedly Atlantic ingredients expertly prepared in the same Indian fashion at Passage to India restaurant in Bethesda making it truly unique among ethnic restaurants. The restaurant embodies a hushed, intimate atmosphere that lets the diner focus on culinary delights from the whole of India.
Italian Restaurants
Cesco Trattoria
4871 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.654.8333
Cesco Trattoria serves authentic Tuscan Cuisine—hearty, rich and fresh—in downtown Bethesda in their intimate dining room. This upscale Italian restaurant is heavy on stews and braised meats with a healthy dose of seafood, the house made pastas are excellent as always and, even though an evening out at Cesco Trattoria can get expensive, the satisfying cuisine and ambiance are well worth it.
La Panetteria
4921 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.951.6433
A Bethesda restaurant institution for over 25 years, La Panetteria is renowned for their authentic takes on both Northern and Southern Italian cuisine served impeccably in their old fashioned, casual and cozy restaurant. Everything, from the pastas and sauces to the breads, are made fresh, in house daily and no matter the item, it's sure to be absolutely delicious. The most amazing aspect of this downtown Bethesda restaurant is that all this sumptuous Italian goodness still comes at a very reasonable price.
Red Tomato Café
4910 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.652.4499
The rustic and homey wood-fired oven of the Red Tomato Café in Bethesda presides over the dining room creating a casual, yet intimate atmosphere making this cozy little Italian restaurant a great place for a first date. The menu is fairly limited when compared to some other Bethesda restaurants, but everything served is made from incredibly fresh ingredients and the flavors are melded expertly.
Ristorante Tragara
4935 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.951.4935
There's really no surprises at Ristorante Tragara in Bethesda—excellent food, expertly prepared, classic dishes that blend traditional Italian techniques and flavors with the freshest ingredients, impeccable service and a wine selection that truly brings out the authentic flavors of the cuisine. The elegant dining room is the perfect setting for any meal and the upstairs area can host nearly any size event comfortably and with the precision that Ristorante Tragara has become known for—truly one of the best restaurants in Bethesda.
Trattoria Sorrento
4930 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.718.0344
Trattoria Sorrento in Bethesda is a true family run restaurant where the love of Southern Italian cooking can be felt in the warm ambiance and tasted in every bite. The chefs are wholly rooted in the authentic, but are certainly not afraid to branch out and get creative with some dishes. The menu is long on entrees as well, indicating a more traditional approach. Also, all of the pastas, breads and desserts at Trattoria Sorrento are made fresh daily.
Japanese & Sushi Bars Restaurants
Raku-Asian Dining, Sushi & Sake Bar
7240 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.718.8680
Raku-Asian Dining in Bethesda takes traditional pan-Asian cuisine and conceptualizes it with modern twists taking Asian-Japanese cuisine and sushi through edgy reinventions. Bethesda crowds pack into Raku's modern space creating a lively dining room that perfectly compliments Raku's take on the cuisine.
Lebanese Restaurants
Bacchus: Lebanese Cuisine
7945 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.657.1722
Specializing in small plate, family style meals, Bacchus in Bethesda serves authentic Lebanese cuisine in a more elegant setting than its Washington DC sibling—but the prices haven't risen with the atmosphere. You can still get an extensive sampling of Lebanese dishes at a reasonable price and the sheer amount of menu items ensures that you can try something different every visit. For Bethesda wine imbibers, you have to try some of their Lebanese selections that pair better with the cuisine than some of our humble American choices.
Mediterranean Restaurants
Levantes
7262 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.657.2441
Serving excellent Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine in a friendly atmosphere, Levantes restaurant in Bethesda presents their authentic food at reasonable prices. Also, Levantes aims to be family friendly, and sharing is encouraged with their small plate meze appetizers, or even the larger entrees.
Tel Aviv Café
4867 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.718.9068
Tel Aviv Café in Bethesda takes Mediterranean cuisine to a consistent five-star level serving an extensive list of small plate meze appetizers, engrossing salads and larger entrees that represent the best tastes of the Mediterranean. Everything served at Bethesda's Tel Aviv Cafe is lively and delicious awash in a sophisticated, yet wholly casual, taverna décor reminiscent of colors of the Mediterranean.
Mexican & Southwestern Restaurants
Austin Grill
7278 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.656.1366
Authentic Mexican cuisine and big-time Texas flavor meet at the Austin Grill in Bethesda which serves up insanely huge portions of grub to hungry patrons searching for a little bit of the southwest in this kitschy styled restaurant and bar. The young biz pro set gathers here after work to sip on some margaritas and munch on the better than average Tex-Mex fare. Simply put, the Austin Grill is a great place to meet and in Bethesda.
Seafood Restaurants
Bethesda Crab House
4958 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.652.3382
The Bethesda Crab House is a restaurant staple in downtown Bethesda for offering the best crab in town the way they ought to be served—on long, paper covered tables with plenty of beer and hush puppies. The scene here is often lively to the point of raucousness; but isn't that what a crab boil is supposed to be? Also, on most nights, the Bethesda Crab House does an all you can eat crab feast that includes all the fixings.
McCormick & Schmick's
7401 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.961.2626
The Bethesda outpost of this venerable seafood restaurant chain boasts over 30 varieties of fresh fish from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and from regional waters. McCormick & Schmick's takes extreme pride the freshness and preparation of their seafood choices and this pride doesn't stop at the kitchen door. Everybody from the bartenders, who squeeze fresh juices for cocktails, on down the line make it their duty to expertly serve you—a prime directive of the McCormick & Schmick's mission.
Spanish & Latin American Restaurants
Jaleo
7271 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.913.0003
Reflecting the rich culinary diversity of Spain and bringing it to downtown Bethesda is the mission at Jaleo, an unique restaurant experience that offers patrons a more than extensive sampling of hot and cold tapas to be enjoyed over pitchers of their signature sangrias. The lively, vibrant Spanish culture can be seen in every aspect of the restaurant from the food, drinks and service, to the hip décor. Jaleo in Bethesda is nothing short of culinary inspiration.
Thai Restaurants
Sweet Basil
4910 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.657.7997
Sweet Basil in Bethesda artfully and expertly blends traditional Thai techniques and dishes with modern twists and flavors. This decidedly contemporary and hip Thai restaurant is known as a place where you can explore new culinary adventures, but still be comforted by more familiar Thai fare.
Vietnamese Restaurants
Green Papaya
4922 Elm St., Bethesda, Maryland; Tel. 301.654.8986
This stylish Vietnamese restaurant in Bethesda branches out from traditional Vietnamese cuisine yet still maintains a deep foothold within the realm of classic Vietnamese cooking. You can still get traditional favorites, but can also try some of Green Papaya's inventive twists that mesh more modern flavors and textures together.
—Bethesda restaurant reviews by Ryan Osterbeck, except where noted
Nearby Washington, DC Restaurants
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Ruth's Chris Steak House - Serious Sizzle
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