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 the kitchen. Try specialty cheese paired with wines or small bites and something sweet like a Choco Crunch Cookie from Calleva or a Fudge Brownie from Locals Farm Market. 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 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. 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 Slow Braised Beef Short Rib in the Restaurant or Tavern. 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 an igloo and sit right under the stars in a heated igloo with a Hot Honey Bao Bun and Tiger Vogue cocktail. Â
5: Visit The Grove 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.
6: Get a chance to grill indoors at Firepan KBBQ in Silver Spring, MD. Grill different kinds of meats including beef bulgogi, steak, pork belly, and marinated shrimp. They have refillable sauces with soy garlic to a hot Gochujang. Drink their seasonal winter cocktail, the Smoky Applejack, with Crown Royal Apple, Mezcal, Apple Juice and more.
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.
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: Try a Tex-Mex fusion at Urbano the Heights located in Chevy Chase, MD at The Heights Food Hall. This full-service restaurant offers different types of tacos and fajitas. Order the Texas Chili with seven chilis, Elotes Locos, or Urbano Wings that are slowly smoked then grilled, served with spicy ranch. Make sure to get one of the Margaritas de la casa like the Prickly Pear Rita, Cadillac Margarita or Margarita and Co. with a Coronita.
10: Eat dinner with a view of the Agricultural Reserve at The Comus Inn. This historic farm now serves farm-to-table dishes like their Country Fried Quail. Guests wanting something on the lighter side can order the Spinach Salad with Apple Bourbon BBQ, Spinach, Red Onion, Feta, and more. After dinner, get a drink at Vanish Beer Garden. Try a malty Wrexham Red, or Midnight City Cider.
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.
