Ahh, the start of fall. As crisp air settles in and pumpkin spice everything makes its seasonal debut, Montgomery County, Maryland, serves up the flavors of fall, from harvest-inspired dishes and classic comfort foods to craft beverages along the Tastemakers Trail. From farm-to-table dining tucked away in the rural countryside to favorite local neighborhood restaurants, fall brings plenty of delicious ways to eat your way through Montgomery County. We’ve rounded up some of our top recommendations to explore this fall, from a leisurely afternoon at a local favorite restaurant to a memorable night out with friends.
Harvest the Season at Local Restaurants
Discover a sampling of local favorites, from Roasted Acorn Squash Flatbread and Apple Pie-Stuffed French Toast to pumpkin-inspired ravioli, Butternut Squash Gnocchi, apricot-inspired Mangalitsa pork, and a Farmers Market Salad served alongside sweeping views of the countryside.
Known as a local favorite, True Food Kitchen is a made-from-scratch kitchen offering a healthier option to enjoy the flavors of fall. With locations at Rio Lakefront and in Bethesda, the chefs are serving up classic dishes with a seasonal twist, from butternut squash soup and roasted acorn squash-inspired flatbread to spaghetti squash casserole if you’re feeling a bit adventurous. Indulge in feel-good fall flavors prepared with avocado and olive oils at this 100% seed-oil-free restaurant. Keep an eye out for the limited-time fall menu featuring new seasonal flavors, including Seasonal Fall Pie, Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza, and Puffed Sourdough with Whipped Ricotta.
Photo Credit: True Food Kitchen
Harvest the best of fall with a salad that puts a seasonal twist on fresh flavors. Head to The Farmhouse Bistro at the Crossvines in Poolesville and try the Farmers Market Salad, a colorful combination of radicchio and tender greens, pickled radishes, baby cucumbers, asparagus, and whipped local goat cheese, finished with a champagne mustard vinaigrette. Pair your salad with a glass of apple or peach cider, or sip a glass of wine from the tasting room. With sweeping vineyard views and a relaxed setting, The Crossvines is the perfect place to linger over a seasonal meal.
Step into an Italian-inspired restaurant at Pike and Rose in North Bethesda for comforting, old-school Italian American classics, from hearty pastas and chicken Parmesan to rich, cozy dishes perfect for a fall meal. At Caruso’s Grocery, try a fall green salad with toasted pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, and a tart green apple, or a creamy burrata dish with basil pesto, toasted pine nuts, and garlic bread. Indulge in fall comfort food like Baked Eggplant Rollatini, perfect for a cooler day.
Photo Credit: Caruso’s Grocery
Fall Flavors Worth Savoring
Get a taste of fall at local favorite Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Rockville, a modern American-inspired winery and wine bar. Indulge in made-from-scratch dishes featuring peak-season ingredients, from butternut squash gnocchi with wild mushrooms and crispy onions to braised short rib risotto with white wine and truffle oil, and pistachio-crusted grouper with mustard sauce and homestyle potatoes. Pair your meal with a wine tasting in Cooper’s Hawk’s Napa-style tasting room and sample a selection of wines in a relaxed setting.
Photo Credit: Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant
For a taste of the rural countryside, savor the flavors of fall at critically acclaimed Burnt Hill Farm, a 117-acre regenerative farm and vineyard in Clarksburg perched above the Piedmont Plateau, featuring estate wines and seasonal farm-to-table cuisine served at an intimate 12-seat Chef’s Counter. Settle in with a glass of Dreamscape, Burnt Hill Farm’s fruit-forward Gamay red, and enjoy Mangalitsa pork with apricot and tangy mustard or honey-roasted romesco carrots topped with feta and Honeycrisp apple while taking in scenic views of the rolling countryside.
Photo Credit: Burnt Hill Farm
A farm-to-table restaurant known for its comforting cuisine, Founding Farmers Potomac serves a selection of autumn-inspired dishes perfect for enjoying a warm meal as a cool, light breeze fills the air. Enjoy seasonal dishes rooted in culinary tradition, prepared in-house with a focus on delicious food, sustainability, and preserving the planet. Savor fall-inspired dishes like Butternut Squash & Mascarpone Ravioli with sage butter, or comforting favorites like Ham, Apple & Pea Macaroni and Cheese, served with a side of Apple Walnut Raisin Bread.
For those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth, look no further than Apple Pie-Stuffed French Toast from Silver Diner. Crusted in cinnamon sugar, layered with vanilla crème, and served with roasted apples, pomegranate, and salted caramel, this rich and fluffy French toast makes for a delicious seasonal breakfast. Explore other seasonal dishes worth enjoying, from Panko-crusted pork chops with sautéed apple cider to butternut squash mac and cheese and Creekstone Farms meatballs served with marinara, English peas, mushrooms, and roasted butternut squash.
Tastemakers Trail
Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company and Fallen Oak Distilling
Set against the backdrop of a 30-acre farm, unwind on the patio at Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company and sip on an Olney Amber, a rich, malt-forward beer perfect for a crisp fall day, or step into the distillery for a night of music with a Smoked Maple Old Fashioned in hand.
Sip into fall with a seasonal sangria at 61 Vineyards, a family-owned winery nestled among the rolling farmland of Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve, or relax with a glass of Cabernet Franc, perfect for lingering on a cooler fall afternoon.
Settle onto the patio for a relaxing afternoon of live music and seasonally inspired cocktails. Try Song Dog Rock & Rye, a special rye whiskey liqueur with orange, cherries, and spices, or the Chamomile Bee’s Knees, made with chamomile-infused gin, lemon, and honey, while taking in the surrounding countryside.
For something a bit sweeter, head to Clear Skies Meadery for Pumpkin Pie Mead, a semi-sweet honey mead infused with pumpkin, ginger, and cinnamon. Relax in the cozy taproom, where handcrafted meads, live music, and community events create a relaxed atmosphere perfect for enjoying the flavors of fall.
Looking for more autumn inspiration? Explore 7 Great Hikes to See Fall Foliage Near DC, browse our Fall Festivals and Events Guide, or discover more upcoming events happening throughout Montgomery County.
