Wonder food hall expanding to Rockville

Just when it looked like the food hall fad was cratering in Montgomery County, a behemoth of a new entry has announced its impending arrival in Rockville this spring. Wonder, a national chain promising dine-in, pick-up, and delivery cuisine "from James Beard Award winners, Michelin star recipients, and Food Network stars," will open this April at 12240 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza. The food hall will allow you to mix and match dishes from more than 15 restaurants operating out of its kitchen. Big names on board include Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, Jonathan Waxman, Marc Murphy, José Andrés, and Marcus Samuelsson. A more-dubious name on board is "North Bethesda." North Bethesda? Mmm...not quite.

California Fish Grill sets opening date in Rockville

California Fish Grill has set an opening date for its newest Washington, D.C.-area location in Rockville. The first diners at the fast casual seafood restaurant at 12238 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza will be welcomed this coming Monday, November 10, 2025. All seafood served by the chain meets rigorous sustainability standards recognized by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® program, "third-party certifications, or credible improvement projects." The restaurant will also offer catering packages.

The new Rockville location features the chain's most popular dishes like Atlantic Salmon, Mediterranean Branzino, and wild-caught rockfish, served as bowls, tacos, salads, and grilled plates. Exclusive to CFG's East Coast locations are new menu additions, including a Lobster Roll and Wild Crispy Cod Sandwich. Guests can customize their meals with signature sauces like Garlic Butter or Cajun Style, with entrées offering between 20 and 67 grams of protein per plate.

"We’re thrilled to continue growing California Fish Grill in the DC area," California Fish Grill CEO Bob Holden said in a statement. "Delivering high-quality, sustainable seafood in a fast-casual atmosphere allows more people to enjoy healthy, flavorful meals every day. We look forward to expanding further with upcoming openings in Alexandria and beyond." Operating hours for the Rockville location will be 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM  Sunday through Wednesday, and 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM Thursday through Saturday.

California Fish Grill aiming for November opening in Rockville

California Fish Grill is now targeting a November 2025 opening at 12238 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza in Rockville, according to Google. This is one of the first East Coast locations for the Newport Beach-based fast-casual seafood chain, which previously had been limited to the southwestern states of California, Arizona, and Nevada. It won't be the very first to open, however, as their Fairfax location opened a week ago at 11048 Main Street, while construction has taken longer here. 

Construction barriers at the Rockville location prevent getting a sense of how far along the interior fit-out is here. There is a recently-posted video giving a preview of what types of dishes you can expect to find on the menu at California Fish Grill. The restaurant is similar to the short-lived Slapfish in operation, in that you don't sit down and give your order to a waiter. Orders are placed on flatscreens.

Tatte Bakery & Cafe targets January opening in Rockville

The sign is up at Tatte Bakery & Cafe at 12232 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza in Rockville. Inside, the interior fit-out appears nearly complete. Furniture, and kitchen and counter equipment, are in place. Tatte is now working toward a target opening date of January 29, 2025 for the Rockville store. The chain recently opened a second Bethesda location at Westbard Square.

California Fish Grill opening first East Coast location in Rockville

California Fish Grill will open its first East Coast location in Rockville. The Newport Beach-based fast-casual seafood chain currently has restaurants in California, Arizona, and Nevada. It announced plans to expand to the Eastern seaboard earlier this year. The Rockville location will be at 12238 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza.

True to its name, grilled seafood meals are the specialty of the house at California Fish Grill. Those selections appeal to health-conscious diners, with grilled fish atop rice with a side of vegetables. But scrolling further down the menu, more decadent entrees await, such as fish-and-chips and fried catfish. Like many fast-casual concepts, California Fish Grill offers bowls (including its trademark Cali Bowls), wraps, and salads. But it also sells tacos, and is one of the rare fast-casual restaurants serving calamari.

Towne Plaza faces heavy competition, surrounded by major retail centers like Montrose Crossing and Federal Plaza. It continues to add interesting dining tenants, even if some of them have been short-lived. They had Chef Geoff's last decade, and even tried to bring back Boston Market at one point. Fine dining is a tradition at Towne Plaza, which was home to Rockville's most-popular restaurant in the 1990s and early 21st-century, Houston's.

Tatte Bakery & Cafe opening in Rockville

Tatte Bakery & Cafe will open a Rockville location later this year at 12232 Rockville Pike, at Towne Plaza. This will be the Boston-based chain's third location in Montgomery County, following its opening at The Wilson in downtown Bethesda in 2021, and its recent lease-signing at the new Westbard Square development in southwest Bethesda. 

Give Towne Plaza credit for always trying to stay relevant in the local dining conversation. Over the years it has hosted the great Houston's, Five Guys and Chef Geoff's; tried to keep Boston Market in the area before the chain backed out; and briefly counted the unique Vietnamese cafe Bambu Che as a tenant. Tatte Bakery has been a coveted tenant in recent years, so this is quite a score for Towne Plaza. When it opens, look for Tatte next to Comfort One Shoes.

Signage installed at Rockville Pike Animal Hospital

It was over a year ago that Rockville Pike Animal Hospital announced it would be opening at 12248 Rockville Pike, in the Towne Plaza development. But on Monday, the permanent signage was installed on the building facade. This will be a benefit to pet owners in the many apartment buildings located near Towne Plaza on, and parallel to, Rockville Pike. Does that ATM now accept Milk Bones?

Rockville Pike Animal Hospital to open at Towne Plaza

Rockville Pike Animal Hospital is coming soon to 12248 Rockville Pike in the Towne Plaza shopping center. This is the former Navy Federal Credit Union space, which still has a Navy Federal ATM embedded in the storefront. There are at least three other animal hospitals on the Pike currently: Caring Hands at Wintergreen Plaza, Dr. Boyd's Veterinary Resort, and the 24-hour Metropolitan Animal Emergency and Specialty Center.

Boston Market returning to Rockville

Boston Market fans, rejoice. The all-American cuisine restaurant is returning to Rockville after closing its Loehmann's Plaza location two years ago. Boston Market will be in the Towne Plaza retail center at 12238 Rockville Pike. I can taste the mashed potatoes and cornbread now!

Katsu Go removes sign after owners' dispute

Katsu Go opened at 12238 Rockville Pike with big plans in May - and met with immediate success, capped by recognition in Washingtonian magazine as one of the best new budget restaurants in the region. That success led to the sudden breakup of the ownership group that launched the business just months ago, according to one owner, who said he and a partner were brought in to help launch the restaurant. Both men are now out, he said, and looking for a new Rockville location.

The Katsu Go sign has been removed from the front of the restaurant. But there were still customers dining inside, and steam rising from orders being prepared by staff, when I stopped by. Perhaps it has become like one of those cool bars that doesn't have a sign.

Bambu Cafe to host grand opening August 20 in Rockville

Bambu Cafe will celebrate its official Grand Opening on August 20 in Rockville. They have operated on soft-opening hours prior to this. Bambu Cafe is located at 12242 Rockville Pike, at Towne Plaza.

Bambu Cafe soft opening today in Rockville

Bambu Cafe will hold soft opening hours today, July 15, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Stop by and try one of their featured Vietnamese Che dessert beverages, or a smoothie or yogurt drink. Bambu Cafe is located at 12242 Rockville Pike, at Towne Plaza.

Bambu Che, Coffees, Teas & More and Nature Kitchen coming to Rockville

Two new tenants are coming soon to Towne Plaza on Rockville Pike. Bambu Che, Coffees, Teas & More will be opening next to Navy Federal. This is yet another addition to the Asian dining options in Rockville. In fact, Bambu has a location in Rockville's rival for top Asian dining destination in the region, Annandale.

What is che? It is a term describing Vietnamese beverages, dessert drinks and puddings made with either fresh coconut water or coconut milk. Unusual drinks include the Smashed Avocado with boba and jellies, and Longan Sunrise with longan, basil seed and juice. Don't forget the Red Bean Combo beverage with red beans, taro, pandan jelly and coconut milk. This is definitely a new set of flavors for Rockville.

Also coming aboard at Towne Plaza is Nature Kitchen at 12238 Rockville Pike. There's no public information about Nature Kitchen, although I've been told it is a Korean restaurant. Given the Asian restaurant boom in Rockville, I would not be surprised if that is correct. Stay tuned for more details.

PM Pediatrics urgent care clinic opens in Rockville (Photo)

A new PM Pediatrics after-hours urgent care clinic has opened at 12254 Rockville Pike, in the Towne Plaza space that was formerly home to Chef Geoff's and Houston's. The company's founders established the network of clinics based on their own experiences in the healthcare industry. They realized most children's visits to emergency rooms weren't for life-threatening medical issues, and that the hospital environment was too complicated and intimidating to provide those children with the best care.

PM Pediatrics has clinics in New York state, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland. The clinics are open until midnight seven days a week. You don't need to make an appointment, but you can "save your spot" and see the current wait time on their website.

Former Houston's/Chef Geoff's Rockville restaurant space split in half; pediatric urgent care to be tenant (Photos)

Unable to find a large restaurant tenant for the space formerly-occupied by Chef Geoff's at 12256 Rockville Pike, Towne Plaza has divided it into two retail spaces. The first tenant to take over half will be PM Pediatric Urgent Care. Construction has begun on the interior of the future clinic, and the second half of the space remains available for-lease.

Longtime residents will recognize this as the end of an era in South Rockville dining. Before it was Chef Geoff's, the space belonged to Houston's, which - while a chain - was considered by the less-pretentious to be one of the top restaurants in Rockville and Montgomery County. Only its Bethesda location remains, under the name Woodmont Grill.