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    Al Carbon

    3.8 (228 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    AL CARBON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Al Carbon

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    Alisha B.

    The restaurant says it's wood grilled.. and yes! It is wood grilled authentic Latin cuisine at its best! We walked in and greeted immediately and you sit where you want. The food was freshly made and tastes great! The ambiance was not there for an award but WHO CARES cause the food was delicious!!! Soda was a little warm from fridge and it was a little hot inside. I'd still go back!

    Pupusas with apple and kiwi strawberry juice
    Whitney L.

    This place is such a hidden gem in Rockville! I've been here maybe a total of 3 times and the food is spot-on every time. Visited yesterday for dinner and had pupusa's. There's a coleslaw type of salad added on the side for a nice crunch and a mild sauce you can dip in for a kick of spice and flavor. It was hot yesterday but there's some available seating outside to socially distance from others who are dining in. Would recommend and definitely return.

    Ensalada- Caesar Salad Ak Carbon Salad
    Mike B.

    3.5 (rounding up for service) When you enter the dark and somewhat dingy Al Carbon, flanked by chalkboards hung on either side of the door that list out the daily specials that have been the daily specials since I last went about 2 months ago, you'll usually find a somewhat empty restaurant with just a few people behind the counter moving somewhat slowly but methodically. The small woodfire that is tended to throughout the day has a wall of wood that sits outside of the restaurant perched along the fenceline feeding it, and the fire is cooking most of the meats you're eating whether it be rotisserie chicken or carne asada. The menu is similar to what you see in most Latin restaurants in the area. Amongst the offerings you'll find tacos, burritos, a couple of entree soups, and a handful of sides that include rice and beans, avocado, french fries (papas fritas). But look deeper and mind those chalkboards when you come in and you'll find specialties like Carne Deshilada, a mix of shredded beef, egg, peppers and savory seasoning served with thick homemade flour tortillas, plantain, and refried beans. You'll also stumble upon arepas of three different types. Corn-cakes that are split apart, filled with meat then griddled to give the thick outer coating a nice crispy exterior. Unfortunately, my arepa spent a little too much time crisping up it's exterior to the point that it had more of a splotchy burn across the back bun which made the corn cake a bit acrid and unappetizing to the palate. This visit was also marked by a Caesar salad that lacked 2 of the few principle components of a Caesar salad: parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing. Ranch dressing was served with the salad, and then when I pointed out the error #NotTheBiggestFanOfRanch, they let me know that they didn't think they had Caesar dressing. In fact, one of the cooks curiously showed me a Thousand Island bottle of dressing asking if this was the dressing I was looking for and I knew, at that time, that things were a bit lost in translation on that one. Luckily, the chicken that topped the salad was well grilled over the open wood fire and was seasoned with an herbal marinade which added strong tastes of cilantro. When I asked if they had another dressing, a green dressing was presented to me (which I'm fairly certain was what they marinade the chicken in - separately of course), and overall the salad itself came out pretty well and was pretty enjoyable. Portion size was what I feel all entree salads should be, fellow restauranteurs take note. On a previous visit I ordered the carne deshilada which was a solid rendition of a dish that I've just currently started exploring at the polka dotted Latin eateries in the area that serve it. Overall, Al Carbon's rendition is definitely worth a try. That said Al Carbon itself is worthy of a visit. The price is right, the food is fresh, and some of the menu really hits the mark. Service was friendly, albeit somewhat timid and reserved and I'd recommend visiting the restaurant on a warmer day as the door in the living room that enters out to the wood pile is frequently opening for the chef to carry in impressive stacks of cut logs on his arms as he loads them into the kitchen, into their spot awaiting their fiery doom under your delicious meal.

    Ann C.

    Tried Al Carbon out for dinner and took a few photos BUT forgot to check in (doh!) Nevertheless, we really enjoyed it. We were met with a friendly greeting when we walked in and invited to sit where we liked. It bring our first visit, I tried one of the entree platters that was a kabob with chicken, beef and veggies with a side of little fried ground corn cakes, while the hubby got the fajitas. Both came with a side of beans and rice. We also got an arepa (chicken and avocado). Everything was wonderful - nicely spiced, fresh, and delicious ... we'll definitely be coming back!

    Seamus S.

    Food was reasonably priced, ready very quickly, and delicious. This is a small family business which I love to support. I don't get what the bad reviews are for, this place is a great find.

    Carolina B.

    I really wanted to like this place. Maybe it was the fact that it was late. Ordered chips and salsa and the chips were stale. The salsa had good flavor but didn't knock my socks off. The aroma of the place just consumes you. You definitely know they are cooking with wood back there. The stale chips turned me off to ordering anything else to eat. So I can't really review on any dishes they offer. I also ordered a margarita and it was a huge lemony mess. Definitely not a place to order drinks either. As the waitress walked away with my drink she commented to the other person behind the counter that I was returning it because it was too strong. Very funny. Thing is you actually couldn't even taste any tequila in that mess! I sent it back and got a sangria instead. While I waited for my sangria saw the waitress go and start chopping an apple. Great so my sangria was being "made" to order. Fine I will let that slide. But once I received it the vino was Luke warm! This is sangria! Meant to be served chilled. The apple chunks she just cut were colder than my wine. Unwillingly I drank it and left not wishing to spend any more money in this place!

    Christopher P.

    This is a pan-Latin restaurant, leaning heavily towards El Salvadorean. We came because of the four star review but left someone deflated. Ordered a guacamole which appeared to be made with mayonnaise. I don't know if that is a Salvadorean preparation but it left much to be desired. Also tried the ceviche which was just OK. Then a couple of arepas, made with corn tortillas, freshly grilled. One was with beef, also mixed with appeared to be mayo. The other was beans and cheese. Pretty bland if you are used to Mexican food. The atmosphere is very cordial. Lots of chattering in the kitchen, people running around, and very friendly. The ambience is somewhat dark. Bottom line - if you love pupusas and grilled chicken at a reasonable price, you may like this place. For me, I probably would not go back. Just not enough there to compete with all the other delicious restaurants in the area.

    Wood for the grill!
    Ana P.

    Came and gave Al Carbon another try for a late dinner and it honestly could not have gone better! The food this time was excellent and delicious. Service was unparalleled. Everything we ordered was superb and came fairly quickly. Our waitress even gave us samples of the cashew, tamarind and mango juices after I ordered a glass of horchata (does not come with refills) and inquired about the other offerings. I especially enjoyed the beef empanadas ($2 for 2) over the chicken and the cheese (but not by much) and the cheese and black beans arepas. They were not at all soggy this time around. My tacos were excellent and the ceviche was my favorite in the round of chicken and beef. Because each taco came double wrapped in the order, it held together well. My siblings enjoyed their split order of the chicken and steak fajitas, which came sizzling to the table. We were only give two tortillas at first for the whole order of fajitas, but were not charged extra when we asked for two more. That was a bit strange... I think the order should have come with six, without having to ask for it. The only other downside was the restroom, not very clean, from what my husband shared. The interior of the restaurant was clean and it would have been nice to sit outside in their side patio, but it was raining. Nice amount of parking available right outside the place too!

    This restaurant is very great food and great service. The stuffs are very nice . The foods are very yummy.  Very recommend this place
    Kunying J.

    This restaurant is very great food and great service. The stuffs are very nice . The foods are very yummy. Very recommend this place

    Grilled salmon

    Was pretty great food for a cheap price. The inside was nice and cozy the staff were friendly and i got a bandeja paisa while my friend got a grilled salmon. All in all, would come again.

    Yucca fries with homemade sour cream, pupusa revuelta (pork and cheese), and carne asada burrito
    Winnie W.

    Homey atmosphere and good service. Food was delicious and filling. Prices are very reasonable. We shared a pupusa revuelta (pork and cheese), yucca fries (perfectly fried to a golden brown), arepa pepiada (chicken, avocado, and a herby cream sauce), and a carne asada burrito. Everything was tasty! We were really impressed The menu is in Spanish and English, and impressively, has English descriptions of the dishes, which was was rly helpful. Can't wait to return and try more dishes. Highly recommend for a low key and tasty bite!

    Grilled Chicken Or Steak Burrito

    Great food and a nice small restaurant to go to when you want some good authentic Mexican food, me and my dad loved the people working and the guacamole they had

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    Z&Z

    Z&Z

    4.9
    (304 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I am simply in awe over the vegan Manoushe at Z&Z. I had to ask three times to make sure the Toum…read moreRaider is vegan because it tastes too good!! I popped by Z&Z for lunch with friends. The inside seating options are limited but there was plenty of space at the picnic tables outside to enjoy my meal with friends. I ordered at the counter and asked what options are vegan. I was told the Classic and Toum Raider were both vegan. I chose the Toum Raider as it has lots of vegetables and seemed like it would be more flavorful. The Manoushe was ready quickly and I was in heaven after my first bite. The vegetables tasted so fresh! The base of the Manoushe had the perfect amount of olive oil. It didn't taste greasy or heavy, and felt like the perfect lunch to enjoy the onset of summer. The aioli made me nervous that it contained egg because it was so creamy and delicious! I have been told three times it is vegan, so I will not think too hard about it and just enjoy this delicious sauce. I am excited to come back to order the Toum Raider again. Thanks Z&Z for the great vegan options!

    For lunch, a friend brought me to try Lebanese manoushe. We ordered at the counter, paid, sat at a…read moretable and received the order after about 10 minutes. Both had fluffy, airy dough and seemed similarly portioned to personal pizzas. The hot halaby honey ($17), with cheese and Armenian sujuk, ostensibly tasted like a pepperoni pizza at a fancy pizza place. The sujuk tasted like beef salami. The spicy baby had tomato sauce, a spicy sauce, basil, and labneh. The sharpness of the spicy sauce was tempered well by the refreshing labneh. The tomato sauce was savory and not too sweet. For someone used to Italian American cuisine,, this tasted like a a spicy margherita pizza with ricotta.

    Photos
    Ordering counter
    Ordering counter
    Cocktail
    Cocktail
    The smallest container of their za'atar. The jar is well made.

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    The smallest container of their za'atar. The jar is well made.
    Glenwood's - Rockville

    Glenwood's - Rockville

    4.1
    (754 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Had a great dinner at Glenwoods! Marcelo took excellent care of us! We started with Oysters and…read moreFiesta Eggrolls, then moved to Chicken Milanese and Boneless Montreal Ribeye for entrees. All prepared perfectly! Add cocktails and wine, plus finished off the meal with Mocha Tres Leches Cake and Ice Cream Sundae... great night!!! 5 Stars!

    Dear Management, I…read moream writing to share my family's experience during our Father's Day visit to your restaurant. Unfortunately, what should have been a special celebration turned into a very disappointing experience due to the service we received upon arrival. We had a reservation for 4:00 p.m. When we arrived, the gentleman at the host stand was not welcoming or friendly. He simply told us to "step to the side" and that someone would assist us in a few minutes. As the minutes passed, we continued to wait without any communication. During that time, a white family of five walked in without a reservation and was seated immediately. At that point, I approached the host stand to ask what had happened and why we had not been seated despite having a reservation. The host searched for our reservation, asked what time it was scheduled for, and then casually stated, "I think someone stole your table." I was shocked by this response. I asked how that could happen if he was responsible for managing the seating. He had no explanation and, more importantly, never offered an apology for the mistake or the inconvenience. A manager later came over and asked what had happened. After I explained the situation, he appeared genuinely surprised and concerned by what had occurred. Once we were finally seated, our server acknowledged the delay and kindly offered us an appetizer because of the long wait at the front. We appreciated that gesture, but it did not change how unwelcome we had been made to feel upon arrival. I am writing this letter not because I am looking for compensation or anything in return. My purpose is simply to ensure that no other family has a similar experience, especially on a day meant to celebrate loved ones. Every guest deserves to be treated with fairness, courtesy, and respect. A sincere apology from the host at the time of the incident would have gone a long way. I hope you will use this feedback as an opportunity to coach your front-of-house staff on the importance of customer service, communication, and accountability. Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. Sincerely, Ms. Deas

    Photos
    The bar area.
    The bar area.
    Today's Featured Soup (tomato bisque)
    Today's Featured Soup (tomato bisque)
    Uptown Old Fashioned

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    Uptown Old Fashioned
    Full On Craft Eats & Drinks

    Full On Craft Eats & Drinks

    4.5
    (741 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Full On Craft Eats & Drinks has moved! And, it moved closer to me, so I am thrilled. The new…read morelocation is much bigger than the old restaurant. They even have a patio if you want to sit outside. The service was very good. My friend and I were splitting two different sandwiches and the waiter was kind enough to serve them separately. So, we didn't have to worry about anything. We started off with a half of order of onion rings. They were perfectly fried and delicious! There was a very generous amount! Then, we ordered the turkey and avocado sandwich. It was very good. But, the home run goes to the Le Pilgrim. The sandwich had fresh roasted turkey, cranberry-pecan relish, mashed potatoes,cornbread & apple stuffing, herb mayonnaise on French loaf with a gravy dunker on the side. It was a great sandwich and we both finished our halves. And, the dunking gravy was amazing. So, the food was delicious, service was very good, and prices were reasonable. I am dreaming about that sandwich! Full On Crafts....I will see you soon.

    Went with friends for dinner at the new location at Norbeck Shopping Center. Went at dinner time…read moreand it waa busy, 45 minute wait, which was fine. No room at the bar so we stood outside for little while until bemch inside became available. Service was good, atmosphere was slightly noisy, but not where we couldn't hear conversation at our table. Food came out promptly. I tried the chicken salad on brioche which was very good. Hubby had the prime rib which he found overcooked and dry. Our friends had crab cake sandwich which she liked. We all ordered onion rings at additional cost for our side and those were very good. Though this place has a following, I wouldn't say I'm dying to return. Its decent, but nothing over-the top to exclaim over.

    Photos
    The inside of the new restaurant.
    The inside of the new restaurant.
    Tomato Basil Bisque (cup) 2.17.24
    Tomato Basil Bisque (cup) 2.17.24
    Tomato Basil Bisque (Crock) - Aug 2024

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    Tomato Basil Bisque (Crock) - Aug 2024
    Bouboulina

    Bouboulina

    4.5
    (107 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Amazing place for a cozy, elevated dining experience!…read more First, they definitely nailed the retro-style ambiance. I liked how moody and refined the decor was, with the dark wood accents and super dim lighting, almost like I was transported to a secret lounge in the middle of Pike & Rose. Second, our server was very prompt to greet us once seated. He was patient and attentive as this was our first time and asked for recommendations. For appetizers, we got a seasonal burrata with strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeños served with sourdough, and a separate order of wood-fired meatballs. The burrata was delicious, with a satisfying combination of fresh, sweet and spicy, and the meatballs were cooked to perfection! Our main meal included the bouboulina salad (with pecans, dates, and pears), the Maryland crab cake, the smash burger, and the wagyu picanha, all to share. Their standout was definitely the picanha since it was so flavorful and paired well with the flavors of the salad. I would definitely visit again for a special occasion :)

    Been doing Capital Grille for the longest time as my go to steakhouse and wanted to try this new…read moreplace and boy it sure didn't disappoint. Place is so nicely decorated and very quiet during lunch. Our server, wish I remember his name, was the best. I think he was floored I was dining with my twin brother. lol. Always came to check in with us and refilled our drinks and was very charming. The food we had was cooked so well with great seasoning, I couldn't have been happier. I had steak the other night so I stuck with fish this time and it was flavorful with lots of butter too. Mashed potatoes was so creamy and tasty and buttery. It's almost like a puree. My brother had a steak and was cooked to his liking with a great char too. Highly recommend this new steakhouse; I believe it's from the Cava brothers who has two other restaurants in the same shopping complex.

    Photos
    The stunning bar area.
    The stunning bar area.
    Lasagna
    Lasagna
    Inside

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    Inside

    Al Carbon - mexican - Updated June 2026

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