MOD Pizza closes on Rockville Pike

MOD Pizza has closed at 12027 Rockville Pike at the Montrose Crossing shopping center. The pizzeria opened here in August of 2019. This is probably not a total shock, as the chain closed 26 of its locations in Q1 of 2024. At the time of those closures, MOD described those stores as "underperformers," so we can't rule out the anti-business policies or moribund economy of Montgomery County as contributing factors. 

The "fast-fired" pizza chains as a whole seem to have struggled in MoCo. Blaze Pizza didn't even last two years at Montgomery Mall, closing in 2016, but its multiple outposts right next door in Gorgeous Prince George's County are still serving pies in under 180 seconds today. Yet &pizza seems to continue to thrive at its many Montgomery County locations, including one about a block away from this MOD at Pike & Rose, so they must be doing something right that some of the other chains weren't.

No Regrets Pizza opens in White Flint

No Regrets Pizza Co. has opened at 5454 Nicholson Lane, Suite 180, in the ground floor of the Harwood Flats apartments in White Flint. In addition to handcrafted artisan pizzas in New York and Roman styles, the pizzeria turns into a dinner and cocktail bar destination. Early patrons appear to have no regrets, as No Regrets currently has a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Google Reviews, and a 4.5 average on Yelp. Operating hours are 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week.

Frank Pepe's at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda to offer Paul Giamatti Pie on Oscars Sunday

Actor Paul Giamatti gave an enthusiastic endorsement of the White Clam with Bacon pizza from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana recently on television. The pizza chain will return the favor tomorrow, Sunday, March 10, 2024 - the day of the Academy Awards - by renaming that pizza the Paul Giamatti Pie for 24 hours. A medium Paul Giamatti Pie will cost $25 on March 10 only, at the Frank Pepe's locations at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and at the Alexandria Commons mall in Alexandria.

Colony Grill opens in Potomac (Photos)

Colony Grill is now open at 11325 Seven Locks Road at Cabin John Village in Potomac. The first guests attending Monday's grand opening were entertained by local R&B ensemble Let It Flow Band, which performed live at the pizzeria. They also saw the first photos to be added to the restaurant's Wall of Heroes, which features local veterans and first responders. This is the Connecticut-based chain's first Maryland location, and one of several high-profile dining additions at the recently-renovated and expanded Cabin John Village property.

Let It Flow Band

Outdoor patio seating

Catch the latest sporting events on TV

Wall of Heroes

Colony Grill sets opening date at Cabin John Village in Potomac

Maryland will be getting its first taste of Colony Grill's famous "Hot Oil" pizza this coming week. The pizzeria's newest location will be opening this Monday, June 19, 2023 at 11:30 AM, at 11325 Seven Locks Road at Cabin John Village in Potomac. With a 4800-square-foot dining space, the pizza parlor will seat about 175 customers at tables, the bar and on the outdoor patio. Like all Colony Grills, this location will feature a Wall of Heroes. Cabin John Village patrons are encouraged to submit 8 by 10-inch photos of friends, family members or themselves, in their military branch uniform, to be added to the wall.

Colony Grill has been named one of the “56 Greatest Old-School Pizzerias in America” by The Daily Meal and is a regular on TripAdvisor's “Top 101 Pizzas in America” list. You can add whichever toppings you wish to your pizza, but a standard Colony Grill "bar pie" with its pepper-infused hot oil atop a thin crust and thin layer of cheese is your best introduction to this new pizza adventure.

“We are thrilled to be open in Maryland,” Colony Grill Chief Operating Officer Ken Martin, said in a statement. “The Potomac area in general and the Cabin John Village development specifically are buzzing with activity and people from all walks of life. We are excited for guests to try our unique pizza and look forward to working hard to be a valued member of the community.” 

No Regrets Pizza opening in White Flint

No Regrets Pizza is coming soon to the White Flint area of Montgomery County. The pizzeria will be in the ground floor of the Harwood Flats apartment building at 5454 Nicholson Lane in North Bethesda. No Regrets is a new, locally-owned business, not a chain. It's unclear if the name was inspired by the famous "bitcoin pizza guy" who claimed he had "no regrets" over frivolously spending his cryptocurrency haul that would later have been worth $365 million. But we can be sure the name doesn't refer to the owners of the adjacent White Flint Mall property!

Colony Grill coming soon to Cabin John Village Center in Potomac (Photos)

The lineup of restaurants being assembled at the Cabin John Village Center in Potomac is simply amazing. Here comes another one - the first Maryland location of the Colony Grill. It doesn't sound like a pizzeria, but that's exactly what is. Colony Grill has been serving its famous "hot oil bar pie" pizza since 1935 in Stamford, Connecticut. 

There are 12 toppings you can put on this very-thin crust pizza that intentionally carries less cheese and sauce than the typical American pizza - but one with just the pepper-infused hot oil sauce is what the owners recommend. They also have a full-service bar with TVs. You can see they are also going to have a nice, elevated outdoor dining area for summer breezes.

The permanent sign is up outside the pizzeria. Inside, construction is well advanced. How good is the pizza at Colony Grill? Davey Pageviews gave it an 8.4 out of 10, high praise from a very tough pizza critic. Everybody knows the rules!

Pizza Hut opens new location in Rockville

Great news for fans of Pizza Hut in Rockville: A new Pizza Hut location has opened at 842-B Rockville Pike. Their hours are 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM Sundays-Thursdays, and 10:00 AM to Midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. While I'd still like to see the return of the full-service Pizza Hut restaurants, complete with red tumblers, vintage Tiffany Pizza Hut lamps, tabletop arcade games and jukeboxes, Pizza Hut still has the best pizza and breadsticks. Look for Pizza Hut next to Maki, across from Wintergreen Plaza.

Nationwide romaine lettuce shortage temporarily nixes Caesar salad at Montgomery Mall's Frank Pepe Pizzeria

A nationwide romaine lettuce shortage discussed in the media since November is now hitting home at Frank Pepe Pizzeria at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The pizza parlor is unable to offer its Caesar salad at this time, due to the shortage, a sign at the business says. Romaine lettuce prices have doubled due to the shortage, which has been blamed on a insect-spread virus that killed off 70-80% of some farmers' lettuce crops this year. 

A massive fire destroyed a major produce packing plant in Salinas, California earlier this year, knocking out a facility that "provides a majority of west coast food service customers with fresh lettuce and vegetables" until 2023. Months later, no cause for the fire has been positively identified. Investigators noted that maintenance workers were performing welding work at the facility the day the fire started. It was one of several major food processing plants destroyed by fire earlier this year across the country, which has contributed to pandemic-related supply chain issues.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana sets opening date at Montgomery Mall + sneak preview (Photos)

Update - 12:35 PM, March 17, 2022:  A spokesperson for Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana just informed me that "due to unforeseen events (minor technical issue), our new opening date will now be Monday, March 28th."

The big day is finally approaching at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It will open for business on March 21, 2022, according to a sign posted at the pizzeria. By the accounts of most of those who have tried their coal-fired pizza in New Haven, Connecticut, expect something special, and expect pizza lovers to travel from across the region to be one of the first to try these legendary "tomato pies." Look for Frank Pepe across from The Cheesecake Factory in the Old Navy wing on Level 1 - and in these sneak preview photos:

Menu!

Pizza Palace for sale in Rockville

Rockville's Pizza Palace is for sale. The pizzeria, located at 14050 Travilah Road, has been in business for just over 20 years. If you've ever wanted to own your own pizza parlor, the asking price for the Palace is $64900, according to the online sales listing.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana opening at Montgomery Mall

Coal-fired pizza appears to be the new trend in Montgomery County. Less than two weeks after the opening of Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza in downtown Bethesda, Westfield has announced that the pizzeria touted as the "world's best" by many is coming to Montgomery Mall by the end of this year. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana will be located on Level 1 of the mall. The photo released by Westfield suggests the pizzeria will have an exterior storefront, which makes sense with the town center-style addition coming to the mall this decade.

Founded in 1925 in the beautiful town of New Haven, Connecticut, the pizza chain is still run today by Frank Pepe's descendants. Each location has a coal oven modeled after the original one Frank Pepe began using in 1929. All of their current pizzerias are in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, so this will be the first Pepe's outside of that region.

Pepe's has won the Best Pizza title numerous times from media outlets and dining guides. YouTuber Tarnation Bob swears by the mushroom pizza at Frank Pepe's, and their White Clam Pizza is known as their signature menu item. Soon it will be our turn to sample what we've been told is the World's Best Pizza at Montgomery Mall, and we're likely to see lines such as those in the photo above.

Photo via Westfield Montgomery Mall

MOD Pizza Rockville opening date set

Last week, I showed you a preview of the interior of MOD Pizza at the Montrose Crossing shopping center on Rockville Pike. Now they have announced their opening date - next Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 10:30 AM. The first 50 people through the doors when they open will get free pizza.

MOD Pizza Rockville opening soon (Photos)

There are a few more boxes and pallets to unpack at MOD Pizza at the Montrose Crossing shopping center on Rockville Pike, and the pizzeria should be ready to open. All decor, furniture, and light fixtures are in place. The patio out front is also set up.