The best restaurants in Bethesda, United States
In Bethesda, diners will find some of the best seafood, steak and Italian food in the entire Washington DC and Baltimore area. It is one of the most prosperous areas in the United States and was ranked by Forbes magazine as the most educated small towns in the United States.
the brown bag
The Brown Bag Deli on Wisconsin Avenue ranked as the highest-rated restaurant in Bethesda according to Yelp.com. This casual eatery opened in 2002 and quickly became an overnight success. The menu focuses on using healthy and fresh ingredients, but still knows that speed and efficiency are crucial. The Brown Bag has been dubbed ‘kitchen to go’ with artesian breads, hearty soups, homemade dressings and spreads, all made in-house. This ‘fast-casual’ concept is designed around creating your own menu. Each meal is designed specifically for that eater, whether it’s a salad, sandwich, omelette or noodle dish. Daily specials are offered ranging from fish tacos with coleslaw and creamy cilantro slaw, pineapple pico de gallo and Mexican rice to soups, such as black bean chorizo and lemon chicken orzo.
cool grill
Slide into Fresh Grill on Fairmont Avenue for the best burgers in Bethesda, according to Yelp.com. This American restaurant was inspired by a passion for gourmet burgers and a desire to take the standard American burger joint to the next level. The cozy and relaxed dining room features quirky artwork, bold colors and modern furniture, and all food is served fresh, fast and with friendly service. This bistro starts each burger with a fresh eight-ounce Angus patty and is then seasoned and seared on a rotisserie over an open fire. After being cooked to order, it is topped with a long list of toppings to each diner’s personal taste and then served on bistro bread toasted with olive oil. Aside from burgers, Fresh Grill also serves grilled chicken, pork and fish sandwiches, shrimp and chicken salads and has a great selection of domestic, imported and craft beers.
woodmont grill
Jazz and blues ooze from the walls of Woodmont Grill, a traditional American steakhouse located on Woodmont Avenue. According to Yelp.com, this restaurant is the third best restaurant in all of Bethesda. Woodmont Grill’s roots begin with Houston’s, which opened its doors in 1978. This family-owned and operated restaurant focuses on simple dishes prepared with excellence, attentive service and genuine hospitality. The menu at Woodmont is sleek, modern cuisine that keeps things simple. It is divided into soups, starters, burgers, salads and main courses. Their entrees are hearty on the beef side, with various rib eyes, prime rib, and center-cut steaks gracing the menu. The Hawaiian rib eye is a diner favorite, but the seafood entrées also shine, especially the ahi tuna salad or the rockfish topped with crab and corn. Woodmont Grill is the real deal when it comes to steakhouses. This Bethesda restaurant knows how to cook a perfect cut of meat, the quality is spectacular, the service is second to none, and every night there is live jazz to spice up your meal.
Clayboy shaved ice
Sure, it’s a dessert food stand, but Clayboy’s Shaved Ice at the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Woodmont Avenue is one of the best restaurants in Bethesda. This restaurant received five stars from yelp.com and during the hot mid-Atlantic summers, nothing beats a cold treat from the Clayboy cart. The signature item is similar to a snow cone made with crushed ice and then topped with the syrup of your choice. The board has over 20 different syrups and they can be mixed and matched. While this may not sound all that memorable, the quality and flavor of the syrups are unforgettable and the fact that a Swedish fish is hidden deep within each pile of ice only adds to the game. It makes everyone feel like a kid again.