This month's cuisine adventure (prior to Chante Moore's show at Bethesda Theatre) was Peruvian at…read morePisco y Nazca in Bethesda, MD. And whew, DELISH! Every.single.bite. My top two? Definitely the grilled octopus and the Pink Coconut Breeze cocktail. The octopus -- along with its flavorful supporting cast was one of the best I've had. Perfectly grilled, tender, smoky, and beautifully paired with the sauces and sides. And that Pink Coconut Breeze? Flavorful with just the right kick. Bonus points for the strawberries marinating in the cocktail because yes, I absolutely used my fork to scoop them out of the glass. No shame. The ceviche sampler was fresh, bright, and flavorful. The Nikkei Sticky Ribs were deliciously sticky and savory. The scallop dish gave me chargrilled oyster vibes. And the pork belly bao buns? That crispy-yet-chewy pork belly skin was a whole moment. And beyond the food, the experience itself was wonderful. The service was attentive and seamless, and the decor was bright, lively, and festive. Oh and did I mention they offer Happy Hour on Sundays throughout the entire restaurant? Yeahhhh... that's a win. Thank you, Pisco y Nazca! I'll definitely be back, especially for the grilled octopus dish. But don't just take my word for it. Check them out and experience the deliciousness for yourself. Featured Dishes & Cocktails We Delighted In: CEVICHE SAMPLER tradicional, cremoso, callejero NIKKEI STICKY RIBS caramelized slow-braised pork ribs, Nikkei BBQ sauce, sesame seeds, scallions PLANCHA PULPO grilled octopus, choclo, causa, chimichurri, anticuchera sauce, ají amarillo sauce CONCHITAS A LA PARMESANA seared scallops, parmesan gratin, lime, garlic chips, grilled ciabatta PORK BELLY BAO BUNS crispy pork belly, red onion, cilantro, leche de tigre, chipotle mayo PINK COCONUT BREEZE 16 tequila, triple sec, lime juice, fresh strawberries Mmmm... #BonAppetit! Cheers! Enjoy!

I came to Pisco y Nazca for happy hour with the girlies and I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH!!! Luhan was…read moreour waiter and he was great. He kept checking in our us, providing recommendations and even patiently flipped through pictures for each dish on the iPad which I love. He also was always around so we were able to order another drink before happy hour ended. We split the ceviche sampler which was delicious and I am not the biggest fan of seafood. I got the tallarine à la huancaina which is like a cheesy pasta with steak on top. DELICIOUS. My friends got the lomo saltado and the aji de gallina (chicken stew and rice) and everything was so good. I couldn't help myself from eating multiple times from my friends plate. We also ordered the pisco spritz and Nazca mule to drink. Once again SO SO GOOD. The restaurant is so cute. We have a booth in the corner that perfecting for yapping and people watching :) Something about good food and really good chat with your friends just leave you in an amazing mood. I truly enjoyed this spot and my friends and I agreed this is definitely going to be a spot we could come back to.

We absolutely love the Tiki Room, especially since it's connected to House of Fu Ling -- it makes…read morethe whole experience even better. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, and the food is consistently amazing. Jenny is wonderful, and we always love seeing Ms. Lin and Mr. Foo They truly make you feel like family. The hospitality is just as impressive as the food. Honestly, I've never had a single dish there that I didn't like. Everything we've tried has been delicious, which just makes me excited to keep working our way through the menu and discover even more favorites. Such a fantastic spot -- we'll definitely keep coming back.

Omg. I cant even start. This place is perfect! Ive been ordering from foong lin since i was little…read moreand now i come back multiple times a week. The best. Literally

Great place to study since they are open late. Not my favorite service.... My friends and I came to…read morestudy here and we did not get approached to ask if we wanted to order anything until we got up and went to the bar. Not sure if that's normal? We also didn't get our water refilled for a hot hot minute. The server did check in a couple times and seemed nice enough but I wasn't impressed. The food itself was ok. I would come back here to study again because I love the late hour but would try to bring my own food or stop by Trader Joe's first. Bathrooms are clean and nice though!

We arrived for an early Tuesday happy hour so the Place was empty. But it still took the sever a…read morelong time to serve us. That was frustrating. We had a bunch of appetizers. Calamari was nice and hot but very oily and I didn't care for the dip. Meatballs were bland. Chicken wings were overcooked and dry.

My wife said, as she returned to the car with the takeout, that Birdsong was not crowded. To stay…read moreby the side of our elderly dog, we are foregoing the experience of dining out, more and more. After we finished eating, she remarked we needed to visit the restaurant sometime. We'll have to look for an opportunity when we are around the dog all day, so she can be on her own for a couple of hours, likely sleeping. Birdsong already is acclaimed. This is much more Thai and Thai American. Like Chinese or Italian cuisine before it, Thai flavors have assimilated to a palate not accustomed to the true strength of the spices. Birdsong is a remedy. They do not offer the pad thai that has become a staple, no longer exotic but to its detriment. (A digression. The history of pad thai, with contested origins, is fascinating. As you delve into these matters, you see how syncretic culture is. You also are exposed to the efforts to fashion a unifying mythology.) We ordered the chicken, the shrimp, the crab fried rice, the papaya salad, and the enhancement. The chicken and the shrimp were quality ingredients, prepared well. Although both proteins were fried, they felt clean. The crab fried rice was one option of many with the rice base. The papaya salad was fresh. The enhancement was radish with "fermented daikon, garlic, red onion, cilantro, palm sugar, and fish sauce scrambled with eggs for a balanced savory and sweet flavor," and the portion was generous: we put it on the rice, then I finished it off in an omelet the next morning. We have traveled to Bangkok. Thai spiciness exceeds what I would endorse, and I love hot dishes. Birdsong was much milder, though with sufficient pepperiness my wife, who does not share my preferences, remarked it was closer to her limit. They will work with you in this respect, and I'm confident I could request something that would test my capabilities. That is, in my book, all positive. The dishes that were mild according to the menu, were mild, but they were flavorful. If you do not like fish sauce, for example, you may not appreciate the offerings, which if they don't have fish sauce have something along those lines. I hope Birdsong fares well.

We were looking forward to eating at Birdsong, which has gotten great reviews. A few friends said…read morethat they went and loved it. But we thought only one of the four dishes we ordered was especially good, I wouldn't order the other three again. The Basil Shrimp - described as "Battered and golden fried" seemed more like tempura. I wouldn't have ordered if I knew. The Tom Yum soup was good, but very pricey at $25. For comparison, a similarly sized, likely an even larger entree Tom Yum soup at Bambu is $14. It had lots of noodles. We were sharing, and asked our server for recommendations- she suggested a second dish with the same noodles. Usually a server points out if diners are ordering two dishes with the same base ingredient (noodles) but our server actually suggested the second one. Seriously? And unfortunately, it was underwhelming, just blah. We left most of it. We got the chocolate crème brûlée, the presentation was very nice, with gilded peanuts on top. The taste was just so so, sweet but not much chocolate flavor. We liked the decor and the atmosphere was nice. We loved the bird mural. Service was mixed. Our server was friendly, but could have been more helpful. First, the recommendation for a second dish with the same noodles was not a good one. We asked if we could share everything, including the soup. We specifically asked if they could put it into bowls for us. They brought two bowls, but we had to wait a while for a spoon to divide it ourselves at the table. She ended up bringing us one of those small soup spoons that you often use for soup at Chinese restaurants. It was around the same size as a regular soup spoon. Apparently they didn't have anything that is more like a ladle, and it was not very useful for portioning out the soup. We thought we'd love this restaurant, but it was a miss for us tonight. Not only that, and this is on us, the only dish with any real nutrition or healthy ingredients was the soup. For one "small plate" appetizer, two entrées and one dessert, the total was just under $100.

Had a great time at Hip Flask Rooftop Bar. Just went there for drinks so didn't get to try out the…read moregood. The drinks were well-crafted and the vibe was relaxed yet lively. Had stunning rooftop views that make it perfect for unwinding. Definitely a go to spot for a chill evening with friends.

Came here for the first time with my best friend. This is the rooftop bar on the Marriott which…read morehas a special elevator near the entrance of the hotel. It had a chill vibe. There were a good amount of seating but I easily see this spot getting filled up quickly. It was cold outside so the only outdoor seating was under the heated domes (there were 2). The waitstaff were great and the drinks were reasonable (on par with most places). Would love to come back when it's warmer to sit outside.

This is a cool spot. Entry is really cool and looks like prohibition speakeasy's of times gone…read morepast. Two HUGE bouncers inside who were policing everything to maintain the vibe. Husband couldn't read the menu, can't use your phone for that, he was leaning up against a wall, can't do that, finally snagged seats on a couch, feet off table. We had two drinks and enjoyed about 20 minutes in here and went off to find something to eat. Definitely work a stop if you are nearby or in the area. It's a cool experience. One thing og note: They do not really deviate from their limited menu of drinks. These bartenders are not like those of speakeasy's from other, larger cities I've been to. I don't drink alcohol at all, so, I tend to ask them to make me a mocktail. They didn't seem very inventive and only offered basically ginger beer in a cup for $14.

The bartender Chris accused me of being intoxicated because I was vibing to the music Saying that I…read morewas had my eyes closed at the bar when I was just feeling the music. Clearly he can't discern when a patron is intoxicated or not!!!!!! I do feel as though it was a level of discrimination as I only ordered water at the bar no drinks were ordered....and I had no drinks prior to arrival. Never assume from a distance someone's sobriety just because the clientele you serve normally is intoxicated

Had the satay chicken and chicken dumplings along with the fruit fizz, 10/10…read moreOur server Yoseph was really nice and ensured we were taken care of. Would definitely come back for a visit!

Had to go to the Bethesda Apple store today, so, while there, popped into Hawkers Asian Street Food…read morefor some Vietnamese Shrimp Rolls and Malaysian Roti... both were freshly made and delicious. The interesting and varied menu could use a native English speaker's revision in a few places, though... the "seared steak" I ordered turned out to be raw (very much a Carpaccio situation), and the misunderstanding was completely due to a misleading description on the menu. I sent it back, and the manager graciously agreed that the menu blurb was deceptive (completely unintentionally, of course). Lots of fun, refreshing summer cocktails using Asian flavor profiles on this menu... I look forward to trying them sometime when I'm not driving. The mocktail menu looks splendid as well... so will return next time for Lamb Rendang and a tall sparkler. One note about the seating... unless you are a professional gymnast, avoid the tables lining walls near the bar... they are mounted on high cement platforms, and are extremely awkward to climb. As my server said, "Butt first" is the way to go... or just sit at a regular table with regular chairs. It appears the interior designer was having a little joke (at our expense). Quirks aside, this is a great place for Asian street food from a wide variety of cultures, at a reasonable price, in an attractive setting. It's worth visiting for the neon alone.

Last night tabletop dinner:…read more Great space and excellent seafood tower. Everything was expensive, but in-line or decently priced for fresh shellfish. Cannot overstate how nice the bar and restaurant ambience is which is fine-dining level but with a everyday casual service and menu. The aptly named "Kraken" is fantastic. 10/10, no notes. Actually a value at 200 bucks if it's your dinner. The lobster roll was 45 bucks and that is exorbitant, but given everything under Trump :)...not surprising.. Very good Marg - not too sweet and cold beers. Had the Narragansett draft which is a perfect, dry lager for seafood. They were out of the Kolsch I wanted, but no complaints. Service was economical if not not spectacular. Coming back to sit at the bar and suck on oysters and beers soon!

I had an absolutely amazing experience at The Salt Line. The service and food completely exceeded…read moremy expectations. The portions aren't huge, but they're perfectly sized--just enough to enjoy everything and still have room for dessert. The crab roll was incredibly fresh and flavorful, and the salad with its tangy dressing paired perfectly with it. The deviled eggs were honestly the best I've ever had--no exaggeration. The richness of the filling was outstanding. The cocktails were light and refreshing, and happy hour made everything feel even more worth it. I ended with the key lime pie, which was fluffy, bright, and layered in deliciousness. The atmosphere is open, friendly, and has a really well-done nautical vibe that fits the whole experience. And our waitress was fantastic, attentive without being intrusive, and we never had to flag her down for anything. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu.

A decent place for a breakfast burrita among several options in Bethesda. The two choices for the…read moreinside of the burrito are al pastor or vegetarian (a la Mexicana). I got the roast pork and you get plenty of chunks of meat throughout. Besides the meat, my favorite part honestly was the tortilla. It held up the contents of the burrita well! What could really help would be more meat options or offering some sauces on the side, especially for $14.99. It might not look big from the pictures, but the burrita was enough of a lunch for me. The construction partially blocks the view of the entrance from the rest of Bethesda Row, but I still see people finding it! It's a big spacious dining room inside, even if you close off the part of the area meant to host parties. The Tacombi decor actually does a really good job of transporting you somewhere else, in my view for a fast casual restaurant. One of my favorite aspects of the restaurant is the sink outside the bathroom. Service was decent as well.

Never leave with a to go order without opening up the stapled bag and checking the bag first…read more I blame myself but 25% off the order was not in the bag when I got back. That's what I get for assuming basic competence. So if you must order here to go...PLEASE CHECK THAT THE STAFF DIDN'T MAKE A BASIC MISTAKE OF FOOD SERVICE.

I've had this review in DRAFT for a while, to allow time for rumination as to the final rating…read more.. On the one hand, there are some very positive aspects to Beth's, situated in downtown about a 10 min walk from the Bethesda Metro Station. Turn off Old Georgetown Road onto Fairmont Ave, and the first thing you encounter is a beautiful outdoor patio for al fresco dining and a large bar. The colors are vibrant with a focus on Southwestern earth tones; very reminiscent of a cafe you'd find in Sedona. It was still on the chilly side when my dinner group gathered, so we opted to sit indoors. There is a small waiting area in the foyer, and then a moderately sized bar, which leads into the main dining room. TBH, the design asthetic of the space is a bit of a "mishmash." Is it supposed to be European inspired? A continuation of the Southwestern motif? It's all a bit odd... We had about eight in the party, so staff pushed together two tables for us. We were greeted promptly and were told that the restaurant could accomodate individual checks, as ordering is done with handheld devices. My other observation about Beth's is, I'm not quite sure what "story," the place is trying to tell. The menu focuses on "Bites," which could be interpreted as "appetizers" and only has four "plates," aka "entrees." Our server mentioned while awaiting our orders that Beth's wants diners to share the "Bites" with a spotlight on their cocktail selections. So is Beth's trying to be a tapas bar then? I opted for the recommended Purple Rain which consists of Gin, lavender, lime; mostly because I LOVE a nice herbal Gin. The distinctive flavor of juniper berries from the gin was present, while the floral notes from the lavendar and citrus of the lime balanced out the drink. I was pleasantly surprised. Food started arriving after about 20 min, and visually the barley risotto was quite appealing. Instead of short or medium grain rice, Beth's uses the ancient cereal grain barley. It is slow cooked in stock to produce that slightly chewy, yet not undercooked mouth feel. USDA choice braised beef short ribs was stewed until fork tender, and the dish was finished off with Parmigiano Reggiano, and butter. For $24, the plate was a good portion size and very tasty. I dunno. I sampled some of the small plates such as the Brussel Sprouts, crunchy ravioli, crispy spring roll...and everything was fine. Not outstanding...not terrible...but just fine. The kitchen seems to be competent, so it would be interesting to see a menu where more main dishes were offered for diners who want a more substantial meal. The other thing I'll note is, due to the extremely high ceilings, the main dining space is a deafening echo chamber. I was hoarse by evening's end, since I was literally yelling over not just the background music, but the other nearby diners. Just keep this in mind that if you're seeking a quiet and cozy spot, either dine outdoors or come early. After some reflection, I settle on 4 stars. Service was good with water glasses constantly refilled, dirty dishes removed, to-go boxes offered, and the ability for separate billing. Price wise, for one alcoholic beverage, and one entree my tab with tax and tip came to a bit over $50. Automatic gratuity was added for the table since we had over 5 people. I appreciate the server informing us so we didn't "double tip."

I finally made it to Beth's and honestly had mixed feelings about the experience. The food was…read moregood enough that I really wanted to love the restaurant overall. The egg rolls were perfectly fried and delicious with the homemade sauce, and the fries were crispy on the outside while still moist inside. Trey was also a great server and definitely one of the highlights of the visit. The restaurant itself is beautiful, especially the outdoor seating area. The patio is bright, inviting, and honestly a much better atmosphere than the inside dining space. Unfortunately, the music inside completely took away from the experience for me. The restaurant has a dark/lounge-style vibe indoors, so the music really matters. Something more universal and upbeat like Motown, 80's pop, or feel-good music would match the space so much better. Instead, the playlist was loud, distracting, and honestly made me ready to eat and leave. I was also surprised that there was no happy hour offered, especially with such a great outdoor setup that seems perfect for after-work drinks and appetizers. Overall, the food and service (thank you Trey) were solid, but the atmosphere inside and lack of happy hour would probably keep me from returning regularly.