Java Nation, a combination coffee bar and restaurant, opened its fourth locationin Montgomery County in March. The new Silver Spring locale features two distinct concepts, each with its own hours and offerings: Java Restobar is a full-service restaurant and bar with outdoor seating, and Java Market offers an espresso bar with grab-and-go food options. The vibe at Restobar is contemporary with mid-century modern wooden furniture and glass pendant lighting, making it ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, all of which are served daily. You’ll also find live music from local artists on the expansive 80-seat patio (check the website for the schedule). At both Restobar and Java Market, customers will find house-roasted coffee drinks (try the honey lavender latte), Instagrammable pastries and locally sourced products. Standout dishes at the full-service restaurant include the savory leek-and-Gruyère quiche, the huevos rancheros on crunchy corn tacos with avocado, and the linguine tossed with sauteed spinach, shrimp, garlic, butter and parmesan. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with any of the housemade treats, including tres leches cake and expertly crafted espresso martinis.
1010 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, java-nation.com
New in town
The beloved Glenmont food truck Tacos Don Perez, which began as a casual catering service, established a brick-and-mortar location on Kensington’s Antique Row in March. It is owned and run by Mexico City-born Wheaton residents Salvador and Norma Perez and their children Brenda, David, Destiny, Andrea and Emely. The authentic fast-casual taqueria offers counter service in a colorful space with wooden tables and a row of stools at a high-top overlooking Howard Avenue. Sip the agua de sandia, a refreshing watermelon drink offered seasonally, before diving into tacos de birria, a cult favorite comprised of freshly made corn tortillas wrapped around tender braised beef, which customers can order as a single taco or in sets of three, six or 12. The birria broth, a separate menu item, is a must for dipping. Other specialties include the chicken tinga tacos served with a smoky chipotle-tomato sauce and the open-faced birria tostadas layered with refried beans, lettuce, a drizzle of crema, cotija cheese and a slice of avocado. The Kensington location is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. You can also order online for pick up—or hire the food truck to come to you.
3784 Howard Ave., Kensington, tacosdonperez.com
Comings & goings
Potomac native Richard Weiner opened No Regrets Pizza Co. in North Bethesda in May.
Mussel Bar & Grille, a Robert Wiedmaier eatery that closed in April 2022, was slated to reopen on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda in June.
Laurel, Maryland-based Chido’s Tex-Mex Grill, which boasts specialty margarita towers, is set to open in Silver Spring this summer.
Charbel Abrache, the head pastry chef at D.C.-based Seylou Bakery, plans to open Red Hound Pizza with partner Andrea Alvarez in Takoma Park this summer.
MOD Pizza, a fast-casual chain based out of Seattle, closed its Gaithersburg location in March.
Pinch of wisdom
“When making a sandwich, don’t spread the ingredients all the way to the sides because it will spill out. Leave a finger or two on the edge, and when you press down to cut, it will naturally even out.”
—Daniela Moreira, chef and co-owner of Call Your Mother in Bethesda and at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda
This story appears in the July/August edition of Bethesda Magazine.