Warm up this winter by exploring Montgomery County, Maryland’s coziest restaurants and indulging in hearty, flavorful dishes that are perfect for the season. Whether you’re savoring small plates at Hip Flask in Bethesda or enjoying a comforting meal at The Comus Inn in Dickerson, we’ve curated a list of must-try eateries and signature dishes.
1: Reserve a warm wood-burning fire pit or gas fire pit at Windridge Vineyards while grabbing a bite to eat from their kitchen. Try specialty cheese paired with wines or small bites. The Windridge Kitchen has seasonal dishes like their Short Rib & Cheddar Handheld with chambourcin-wine braised short ribs or the Twin Savory Sausage and Mushroom Crepes, served during brunch hours. Of course, you can’t skip the wine. Sip on a glass of 2021 Seneca that’s full-bodied with an aroma of cherry, spices, vanilla, and more.
2: Try a different winter experience at Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company with their tent rentals, along with their smokeless fire pits. While you can’t roast anything over the fire, you can take in the warmth from the pint of Kodiak or Honey Bear. Grab a pulled chicken slider, marinated in BBQ sauce and topped with coleslaw. Or, walk over to Fallen Oak Distilling, into the Whispering Speakeasy for an Apple Pie Martini and Rustic Roasted Chicken served with a hot honey BBQ sauce, mashed potatoes, and honey-glazed carrots. Waredaca Brewing Company offers the same experience with a warming fire pit and a coinciding warming pint of Geedie with notes of clove and coriander.
3: Explore Zinnia housed in the historic Mrs. K’s Toll House. Try dishes in different parts of the restaurants, including the Blackened Catfish served with a crawfish etouffee sauce, buttered rice, and scallions, or their Hunter’s Stew with a slow-braised pork shoulder, beef brisket, andouille sausage, gold potatoes, kale, and cabbage kraut. Grab morning brunch in the Café with a bowl of BBQ Gulf Shrimp & Grits or Mediterranean Bowl.
4: Take in the city skyline at Hip Flask, the only rooftop bar in Bethesda. It’s located at the Marriott Bethesda Downtown, right beside the International headquarters for Marriott. Rent a heated igloo and sit right under the stars with Smoked Brisket Tacos with cojita cheese, pickled red onion, and cilantro, and a Tiger Vogue cocktail.
5: Visit The Grove Bar & Grill located in Potomac. Sit down to their French Dip sandwich with horseradish aioli and shoestring fries or Jambalaya Pasta with a toasted baguette. Try the Razz Blackberry Fizz with Crown Royal Blackberry, champagne, amaretto, lemon, and black raspberry, or the Vanilla Espresso Martini with Tito’s Vodka, coffee liquor, and their housemade vanilla syrup.
6: Tatte Bakery & Cafe is a bakery known for its freshly made baked goods and scratch kitchen with dishes made to order. They have two locations in the Bethesda area and one location in North Bethesda. We recommend trying the Roasted Salmon Winter Vegetable Rice bowl with acorn squash, marinated charred kale, caramelized red onions, and mint that’s sauteed with jasmine rice and Aleppo chili oil. For something sweet, grab a slice of the double-crusted traditional Apple Pie made with Granny Smith Apples and an Iced Tahini Pumpkin Oatmilk Latte with housemade spiced pumpkin and tahini syrup.
7: Head to rio Lakefront and get a chance to eat at Copper Canyon Gaithersburg. Order a plate of the Eastern Shore Style Crabcakes with their Iron Skillet Cornbread. Try the specialty Wood-Fired Rotisserie Chicken or BBQ Pork Ribs. Sip on a Peach Smash with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, fresh lemon, peach, and muddled mint. If you can brave the cold, sit out on The Lake House and order from a special Barge menu. To stay extra toasty, request a table by the fireplace.
8: Step into a refined experience at Clyde’s Chevy Chase & Tower Oaks Lodge in Rockville. Get a plate of their Nashville Spiced Crispy Mushrooms with a buttermilk goddess drizzle. You can’t go wrong with a dozen oysters served chilled or Rockefeller. At Tower Oaks, eat the Icelandic Cod with capers, green bean almondine, and Carolina gold rice.
9: Located in Damascus, Stone Silo Brewery offers a rustic brewery feel to guests who come to enjoy beer with character. Try their Copper Cowbell with a complex blend of malts with notes of toasted cracker and sweet caramel. To get into the holiday spirit, try their Cranberry-Orange sour with tart cranberry, sweet candied orange peel, and salt. If you’re feeling hungry, grab something from The Silo Kitchen food truck on property.
10: Eat dinner with a view of the Agricultural Reserve at The Comus Inn. This historic farm serves farm-to-table dishes like their Allen Brothers Dry Aged Steak served with a brandied peppercorn sauce and French fries. Guests wanting something on the lighter side can order the Butter Lettuce salad, made with pear, red oak, pecans, stilton, and cider vinaigrette, and more. After dinner, get a drink at Comus Beer Garden. Try a Sandbar IPA with cashmere and sabro or a MoCo Light, a light American pilsner.
11: Laperaux French Bistro is your neighborhood bistro featuring the best in French cuisine. Try their dish of the week on their Plats du Jour menu with seasonal rotating items. Louie’s Bar, open Tuesdays-Saturdays is your gateway to Germantown’s upscale casual ‘gastro bar’. The Camembert in Pastry is baked with a house jam and laced with honey and a hazelnut crumble.
12: Everything served at Founding Farmers is made from scratch in the restaurant. Even the bartenders are chefs too. Get an order of the Chicken Fried Steak and Waffle with a seven-cheese macaroni and green beans. Or, try the Blackened Chesapeake Wild Blue Catfish with parmesan grits, green beans, and mango Pico de Gallo. Sip on a cocktail made from their farmer-owned distillery with Vodka, Rum, Tequila, and more.
13: All Set Restaurant & Bar’s influence is on seafood and American cuisine inspired by the traditions of New England. Try their Crispy Skin Salmon with Celery & Onion Stew, Tomato Brown Butter, and Lentils. For gluten-free eaters, you can’t go wrong with a Bleu Cheese House salad or Tuva Nicoise with mixed greens, string beans, olives, a soft-boiled egg, and rosemary potatoes.
14: Experience a café and restaurant all in one at Java Nation. Find locations in North Bethesda, Kentlands, Silver Spring, and Kensington. To get started, try a Beef Empanada with green tomatillo sauce or Crab Dip with a toasted baguette and side vegetables. Get a jumpstart with their Java Glazed Ribs featuring bold Java-infused BBQ Sauce. Grab the customer-loved Margarita Flight or Bramble with Beefeter, St. Germain, Chambord, Cranberry & Raspberry foam.
15: True Food Kitchen locations in Gaithersburg and Bethesda partner with each of the local growers in the county, so every ingredient you get is true. Try the Wild-Caught Tuna Poke Bowl with regenerative black rice, roasted mushrooms, and citrus ponzu, or eat a Grilled Chicken Ranch Wrap with avocado, organic roasted red pepper, and hatch chili ranch. Sip on their crafted cocktail, Crime of Passion, with organic vodka, passionfruit, lime, and elderflower-rhubarb foam.
