I am told this site gets a decent number of hits a month and mainly looking for Olney Restaurants, so I am revamping a bit (29 August 2010). The non-restaurant section is now near the bottom and the restaurants have moved up top. Olney will move up top and we will radiate out from there. Since I like the food at the Olney places and am irked by some DC folks who think burbs=only chain restaurants and the end of civilization.....This does not bother me that much. I was an inner city gal so I kind of understand, but good food can be found many places, and I might be able to walk to more local restaurants with great cooking than many DC folks can. If you think I am nuts, you have to eat before you can speak. Although I am worried it might go downhill. Rents are going up and a Green Turtle plus more fast food is moving in, so I may soon live in the wasteland that others fear exist. All the more reason to keep eating in locally owned places with tasty interesting variety. Few of these are $100/head places, but that is part of the wonderful and why my friends come from DC and NoVA to eat in this little town/suburb/whatever you want to call it.
First things first: The speed limits vary all around the Olney area and there are some cameras set up so even if you are not speeding watch for the tail-lights of those slamming on their brakes to go from 15 over to 10 under the limit. For some reason rarely at the limit. Keep an eye out for the signs and drive responsibly. I am sure the county jail outpost and local hospital while lovely places would prefer to not have your business, at least not for such reasons.
Wasabi Zen for sushi and le Mannequin Pis for Belgium. Belgium has fixed price 3 course steal on Monday night, early bird specials Tuesday-Thursday, and Friday-Saturday lately finds a nice fixed price deal. Next to each other in a hidden strip mall and worth the time to find. BUT recently easier to find the strip mall. Sharing the parking lot and out on Georgia/MD97 you will find a bigish store and another great find restaurant. Next to the Mattress Warehouse (I kid you not, and in front of the truck painting place and nail place and one driveway south of Popeyes, yes they are all neighbors) is a wonderful Thai place that faces Georgia. Now updated with seating in addition to the takeout business they quickly built up. Who knew? Thai Cuisine matches the Thai I was told I HAD to drive into DC to eat. At 1/3 the price and an easy take out (I have not tried dine in or delivery) I will stay in Olney. It tastes as good or better. The sweet and sour sauce which I usually abhor is sublime and not a strange color. Stephen gives 50 thumbs up to the Panang Curry and fried tofu. I have had multiple items and keep going back for more. Find these three good local restaurants between a Popeyes and Shell station. Hey, foodie friends in NoVA ask to come up to go to one of the three on a regular basis. Oh, there is a Bolivan place next to the sushi restaurant, and it is take out only.
Across the street from the sushi/Belgium/etc little strip mall you will see a BP (good for tires) and an eye doctor and in between is the old blacksmith place, home to random chain pizza and more importantly al Sospiro Trattoria and Wine Bar Tasty. Husband cooks mom's Roma cuisine, wife makes desserts from the recipes, and you can get wine by the glass, bottle, or by the sospiro which is roughly 2 glasses. This is a great way to have different wines with each course for a reasonable price or to try wines as a group. The wine bar is not always staffed so go downstairs for service. Not great if you are leg impaired? If you let them know you have trouble with stairs they will care for you upstairs. Closed Mondays (as are several other Olney restaurants, actually).
Could there be more? Yes, lots more.
Ricciutis also has a nice bar, but really is more dining. Good brick oven pizzas and plenty farther up the ladder from there. Lots of local, sustainable, green stuff put into the place. Read their website for more details.
Want some wine, beer, or cheese? Olney Beer and Fine Wine is in the same shopping center as Shoppers and Mama Lucia's. Tastings and an excellent selection make it worthwhile to buy alcohol in MoCo. Just think what they could do without the crazy county restrictions? Want to have wine tasting with a friend but not spend too much money? Welcome the Enomatic into your life. Many a fine Saturday early evening has been had walking in for a tasting, then down to the Olney Cruise Nights (April-October) car show, and then to dinner.
The first couple of years I lived here, while I like my neighbors, I was sad to not live in the city. Now that I have so many great local restaurants I can walk to I am so happy to live in this 'burb/small town/whatever you want to call it. Now on to some other places.
Mamma Lucia (a big one)
Olney Ale House Recommend the beer, burgers, chili, stew, veggie options. I cannot easily walk here or I would go more often. Maybe. Across from a popular and good regional live theater, Olney Theater Center
All the other restaurants are pretty ok, too. The seafood around Olney is usually pretty good and delivered daily to the restaurants. We have even seen the trucks.
As long as I am mentioning Olney places, Paula's Boutique on 108 has ever changing clothes and jewelry that are useful and many times unique (ok, the Brighton is not unique, but the rest is). Good staff. Olney Toys is in the same center and is one of my favorite places to shop. The staff have steered me well over the last several years plus the prices are reasonable. The range of toys is impressive, with classics and about to be huge hits. Graeves Auto and Applicance does a good job with both. The website is interesting. They only have GE and Maytag appliances, but Scott is great to work with as are the delivery people. If you need a gas dryer, you will get it installed, first time, and they come when you schedule them which is much better than taking 3 different days off to wait and not get what you wanted. Fletchers BP also has been reliable for car/tire work and is thankfully open on Sunday. All these places have been a pleasure to do business with and appropriately priced time and again.
Still Hungry?
North Rockville/Coming to Olney from the South (more Rockville/N. Bethesda is below):
Coming to Olney from the south, you will see a great TexMex place, Cavos, near the northwest corner of Norbeck (MD28) and Georgia (MD97) behind the Ace Hardware. New name thanks to a lawsuit over the name, same management and fab food and drinks. I am from TX and most TexMex or Mexican food around the DC area is really closer to El Salvadorean food. The tamales are really tamals, but they typically are labeled as such and otherwise I adore this place. Just go, order pretty much anything on the menu but the seafood soup, get the best margarita made to order in the area, and that salsa, that my friend is made from freshly roasted peppers so that black is not black pepper it is blackened peppers and it may be hot in temperature depending on when they were roasted but the salsa has just the right spice to make all different tastebuds happy. It will vary in flavor because fresh vegetables vary in flavor. It will be tasty. They tinker with the food and usually for the better. The shrimp dishes are spot on. Ceviche (Friday and Saturday I believe) is wonderful. I wish the guac was as spicy as before, but I can see why it is more appealing to these northern palates. Outside of cooking up a storm at home or flying back to TX, this is the spot. I am not alone; this place is packed but you will sit down soon. You can park at the Ace Hardware if you cannot find a spot.
Now if you go North from Cavos on Georgia you will see where the ICC is coming. North of there is a little strip mall on the West side of the road.. What was the gelato place and an old inn is now Sister's Sandwiches and Such. Pretty tasty. Take the whole family. Seating is outside with a few tables inside. The 'such'? You can buy the painted furniture if you wish. By Roots which is a good store if you have gluten allergies and a good small grocery store in general.
Splurge time? Up Georgia Ave. in Brookeville is The Inn at Brookville Farms and they have the "I really need to say I love you" kind of restaurant. Some rooms are kind of country, but um you will be in the country. Not terribly spendy, they have some deals, and you will not be disappointed in the food and rarely in the service. Good Sunday brunch and common wedding reception location. Speed cameras right outside the restaurant where the limit drops to 30 mph.
Casual Gourmet has good coffee drinks and interesting sandwiches that are now one of our weekend mainstays. A place to stop for kitchen gear and interesting food, too. Stop by on your way to the Howard County library in Glenwood (good selections) and the Farmer's Market in the library parking lot 9-noon Saturdays May-October. It is small but one of my favorites and includes tasty baked goods and South Mountain Creamery is there with all their tasty products.
Urban BBQ has recently trippled the size of their outpost here, adding tables of all sizes and a bar area to the previous take-out (primarily) location. Interesting furnishings include chairs formerly from Quiznos (look for the 'Qs') and some cool retooled and refurbished items. The menu is expanding as well and outdoor seating plus a Sunday brunch are coming soon. I am very excited. Food thus far is tasty.
Not open Sundays. The store at the T where 108 hits 650 (and 108 makes a 90 degree turn; not in Ashton, you want the other intersection of 650 (New Hampshire) and 108). It is the only store there and you want the BBQ sandwich. The sandwich is not as good as it used to be, but it is still tasty. Plus it marks the kink in the road.
Laurienzo's oh my the brick oven pizza of my dreams. Garlic cheese bread is wonderful (essentially, a full 12" cheese pizza that is super tasty). Pizza toppings bursting with flavor that shows the kitchen cares, every morsel. Pasta was well balanced and with just the right sauce. Waitstaff anticipated what we wanted and made us aware of potential missteps (like the size of the cheese bread) to make sure we were sure. Sandwiches are good if you want a smaller meal; Maryland Crab Soup and other frequent seasonal specials are on target to knock your socks off most of the time. Menu is short and to the point with plenty of options. Really cool bathrooms, too, that if you are handicapped were actually honestly pretty accessible. Could have an interesting bar from the looks of things, but we tend to be there at decidedly non-bar times and only once during Friday night rush. Many thanks to Sarah at Black Ankle Vineyards for pointing me here. We keep coming of with reasons to make the drive back and see more of that cute old downtown. We do tend to have so many leftovers we decide we should head home.
Brick Ridge is up the road from Mt. Airy's downtown, such that it is, and each week offers cuisine from a different state. It does so shockingly well. There is a standing menu, too, with the highlights and favorites from the trips. Nice way to make sure you are mixing it up and a nice place for a meal.
Check out the Washingtonian Cheap Eats and Dirt Cheap Eats
The magazine keeps changing links so hope you find what you seek. For good professional guidance Ask Tom at the Washington Post. You may have to register and you will find more DC and VA stuff than I have space for here.
Make reservations all around the DC area (and other US cities) at Open Table
Ellicott Mills Brewing Company, Ellicott City MD
Why eat at the White Flint Mall when you can eat across the street at Addie's? Looks like a cute little yellow house. Parking is a pain. No reservations that I can remember (sometimes for a 4 crowd) so you might need to wait. Go Early. Worth the wait.
Vegetable Garden (vegetarian Chinese; quite a few of this style of restaurant around Rockville) on Rockville Pike near the N. Bethesda Marriott (south of Old Georgetown Road, North of Marinelli) and the restaurant next to it with Middle Eastern food is good, too.
Mamma Lucia (local Italian chain)
If you drive around the side of the shopping center with Mamma Lucia you will find Seven Seas, another good Chinese place.
Joe's Noodle Shop is north on 355
A&J (1319 Rockville Pike) is authentic northern Chinese Dim Song. Good in many people's opinion, but might not be your thing. Cash only.
Need Kosher food or catering for special events? Wonderful knishes (freeze well and come full and mini) perhaps even with local ingredients? Need Kosher advice for planning a party or accommodating relatives or friends on a kosher diet or how to keep kosher on a budget? Want to talk with a wonderful man and a great family? Erick Gilbert is the man to contact. Ask any direct question and he will give you a straight answer. (Hope he does not mind this plug. He is going to special order only, and I am going to miss his knishes and family at the Olney Farmers and Artists Market.)
General Montgomery County food and drink
I used to give a shout out to a VA place but sadly it has closed. Near Tyson's Corner was Colvin Run Tavern a tasty place. Here is hoping they reopen. Maybe I will get lucky and it will be at the corner of 108 and Georgia/MD97 on Olney but I doubt there is enough parking and now that corner looks to be going to fast food hell. Plus then they would have to deal with MoCo liquor insanity. Enough about food for now, on to activities to burn the calories.
Activities & Places around the DC Metro area that you may or may not find on your own
Gettysburg is not a long drive (if not going at rush hour) and has great places for children to run around. Let them play and try to see where everyone hid, died, and figure out why Devil's Den and other areas earned their names.
Go see the O's!
National Aquarium is actually in Baltimore and fabulous albeit expensive. Look for Friday night specials and other bargins, or shell out the cash. It is worth it.
Maryland Science Center is good for all ages
Lexington Market is kind of sketchy outside, but go to Faidleys for the best crab cakes. Yes you need the expensive Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and yes you will stand to eat them and then yes you will be weak in the knees. Yum.
Sandy Spring Museum
Underground Railroad: Oakley Cabin Underground Railroad: Hikes from Woodlawn Manor. If you go on Saturday mornings April-early November and other special times volunteers lead guided hikes. Check the webpage for details and if you are a large party, please email/call a few days in advance so they can plan to have extra guides.
Would not head near College Park if there is a sporting event at the University of Maryland, but otherwise you may want to check out the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant. The 94th Aero Squadron over looks the runway of College Park Airport, the oldest, continuously operating airport in the world. The entire dining room faces this historic airport. I hear the beer cheese soup is tasty.
Brookside Gardens has a light show every December and early January and gorgeous gardens year round.
You can do all the tourist stuff. Here are a few regular items from that list and a few new ones.
Go see the Nationals! The Wizards! The Mystics! DC United! The Caps!
You actually cannot go into the stacks, but you can take a tour of the Library of Congress and go visit my dissertation. I know, you are heading out right now!
Georgetown: Dumbarton Oaks
Tourmobile is actually worth the money I think, even for the 2-day pass
National Zoo, Smithsonians, Archives, and everything else your tax dollars pay for.
Eastern Market has much to share and many say go direct to the Flea Market
The National Gallery of Art East and West Buildings are a full day, all by themselves. Great cafeterias in there, too. Corcoran is pretty cool, too.
The Navy Memorial (at the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro station) is really interesting. It has some great movies and exhibits and people can look up any Navy personnel they know, from way back-- like grandparents, and find out about them, see their Navy pictures and what ships they served on.
The National Arboretum has a gorgeous greenhouse right in front of the Capital Building on the Mall. If you are going to be up there looking at the Smithsonian or any of that (and the Native American Museum is up that end of the Mall, too), it's a beautiful place to stop in. Very jungle -- lots of orchids and stuff in bloom, which in the winter is a nice change.
The World War II Memorial in the center of the Mall. It's pretty impressive -- lots of fountains.
The FDR Memorial over by the Potomac is very nice, too, especially since it is right on the river.
Make sure to see the Korean War Memorial. At night it is spooky but it should be.
A few of the museums you may need to pay for but are worth it:
Holocaust Museum (you should order tickets early)
Spy Museum
Dulles Air and Space (actually, you pay to park and technically this is in VA)
Arlington Cemetery While at Arlington make sure you visit Women In Military Service For America Memorial which currently has a great exhibit: USNS Comfort Quilt. The Comfort Quilt, the Memorial's newest exhibit, features the quilt made aboard the USNS Comfort during her 2003 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The exhibit includes photos and a video discussion with crewmembers. The Comfort Quilt is on exhibit indefinitely. Was in a class at work with one of the contributors and its making is quite a story.
About 8 miles south of Old Town Alexandria on the George Washington Parkway is Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, and if you continue on the parkway to where it crosses Route 1, you'll come to a Frank Lloyd Wright home you can tour, the Pope-Leighey house. This tour is up for debate, though, since I keep hearing the house is being sold and no more tours. Make sure to check.
Parks are plentiful, but here are a few favorites:
Local Hikes
C&O Canal you can rent bikes in Georgetown and ride all the way to Cumberland MD if you really want to (and can physically do it)
Rock Creek Park is closed to cars on the weekend. Take advantage of it!
Great Falls
Sugarloaf Mountain (VA)
Catoctin Mountain and Cunningham Falls State Park) (MD)
Seneca Creek State Park (MD) is surprisingly (to me) one of my dad's favorites. He knows his parks and trails.
Bull Run Occoquan trail (VA)
Shenandoah National Park (VA) and the Blue Ridge Parkway
In addition to Gettysburg you may want to see Antietam (MD), Harpers Ferry (WV), Manassas (VA) Wilderness/Chancellorsville/Spotsylvania (VA)
I will say it over and over: Take Metro if you can, although at some times and too many places (like easily to Olney), you cannot. Traffic can be horrible. Chill out and keep plenty of money for parking with you. If you need to park at a metro lot I recommend parking early, or try Twinbrook or White Flint along the Red Line for slots on weekdays after 7/8am and before 3:30pm. Metro's website has lists of places where spots are usually available.
