BurgerFi to open Rockville location

Burger lovers at Pike & Rose have largely had to rely on upscale restaurants like Del Frisco's Grille and City Perch at the Federal Realty property. Now a fast casual option is on the horizon. BurgerFi, a modern and eco-friendly burger chain, has leased a spot at 11881 Grand Park Avenue.

Located next to bluemercury in the Canopy by Hilton hotel, BurgerFi will serve all-natural hamburgers, Vienna beef dogs, and veggie and vegan burgers. Their 100% natural Angus beef patties have no steroids, antibiotics or growth hormones.

Burger Fi's menu also includes fresh, hand-cut fries, double-battered crispy onion rings, craft beer, wine, natural sugar cane sodas, and frozen custards and shakes. The restaurant is currently scheduled to open this winter.

“We are extremely excited to become a new member of the Pike & Rose community, a thriving new destination to live, work, shop and dine," the Pike & Rose BurgerFi location's owner Maria Fabelo said in a statement yesterday. "We look forward to bringing our all-natural unique offerings to one of the fastest growing and cosmopolitan neighborhoods in the U.S."

Hot Pot Legend opens in Rockville

Hot Pot Legend is now open at 595 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The Chinese favorite is bringing hot pot cuisine from Chengdu to Hungerford Drive, and is one of several hot pot restaurants to open in the city over the last two years. A panda theme fills the dining room, from the giant mascot to the panda seat cushions available for children.

Rockville's exploding Asian restaurant market now hits bookshelves and e-readers

Rockville has established itself as arguably the Asian dining hub of the D.C. area, only slightly exceeded in reputation at this point by Annandale. In addition to the popular entries from star chefs and mom-and-pop operators alike, one of three Asian food halls coming to Rockville has just opened its doors in Rockville Town Center. Now summer readers will find the burgeoning Asian dining scene in Rockville has hit the fiction section of their favorite neighborhood or online bookseller.

Number One Chinese Restaurant, by debut novelist Lillian Li, tells the story of the fictional Beijing Duck House and its employees. Equally heavy on cuisine and drama, the 304-page hardcover has been named a Summer Must-Read by TIME, Buzzfeed, The Wall Street Journal, Star Tribune, Fast Company, The Village Voice, Toronto Star, Fortune Magazine, InStyle, and O, The Oprah Magazine.

Li originally hails from the D.C. area, and has since moved to Ann Arbor. So it will be interesting to see what real-life details about Rockville outside the restaurant - if any - are featured in the story.

Slapfish Rockville review (Video+Photos)

Slapfish opens tomorrow, July 20, 2018 at 11:00 AM at 12033 Rockville Pike, in the Montrose Crossing shopping center. The first 107 people in line at 11 will get a free lobster roll. But this morning, you can watch my review from a soft opening event last night.

In keeping with the sustainability theme of the
restaurant, water comes in boxes rather than
plastic bottles; at right is a cane sugar-sweetened
cola available on tap

Chowder Fries

Chowder Fries are loaded with bacon,
clam chowder, cheese and onions

Jersey Sauce (left) and
Awesome Sauce (right) are among the
dipping options

Lobster Roll with fries

Fish and chips with fries

Whitefish is used for the fish and chips

Great colors in the lobster roll

Served on a warm butter roll

The first 107 people in line at 11:00 AM
Friday will get one of these free

City Perch teams up with rooftop farm at Pike & Rose

City Perch Kitchen + Bar at Pike & Rose announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Up Top Acres, the rooftop farm at the Federal Realty development. Up Top Acres, the Mid-Atlantic's largest rooftop farm at 17000 SF, will supply the upscale restaurant with fresh produce grown just above the restaurant between the iPic Theatres and the Pallas luxury apartment building.

Previously, the output of the farm has primarily been going to those signed up in the Farm Membership Program, which is currently sold-out. Now City Perch will be acquiring salad greens, heirloom tomato varieties, cucumbers, scallions, peppers and eggplant, as well as herbs like cilantro and basil, into its summer menu. New to the menu is a “Chef’s Rooftop Salad” that will change based on produce available from the farm each week.

“As a seasonal American dining room, we source locally from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.  I have been a fan of Up Top Acres since they started in DC in 2014 and had 'produce envy' of my DC Chef friends! This is a Chef’s dream come true!  We are excited to incorporate Up Top Acres into our menus,” Chef Sherry Yard, Chief Operating Officer at iPic® Entertainment said Tuesday.  "I am truly grateful to Federal Realty and Up Top Acres for bringing sustainable produce to Pike & Rose that allows us to provide our guests with local ingredients at peak freshness and flavor.”

Five Guys opens at Montrose Crossing

Five Guys has moved over to its new home at the Montrose Crossing shopping center at 12029 Rockville Pike. The restaurant is now open in the new location, and has an outdoor dining area.

Adarash Market to open in Twinbrook

Adarash Market is opening a new Rockville location, in the Twinbrook Center at 2000-B Veirs Mill Road. The Ethiopian market chain already has stores in Long Branch and White Oak. Adarash will provide some international competition to Lotte Plaza Market, already open in the former Twinbrook Safeway building.