518486 Mon May 12 16:25:27 -0700 2008 22 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 3680676 Please help out a helpless NYer. I have reason to be in the Rockville/Gaithersburg area semi-regularly over the next several months, but I have no idea where to eat. When I was in town this weekend I followed chowhound and other recommendations to Tako Grille and Joe's Noodle House, both of which I found incredibly disappointing. I know there is supposed to be great ethnic food around Rockville and other parts of the Maryland suburbs, but I don't know where to find it (and I don't know who to trust). Can anyone give me some suggestions? I eat everywhere in NY and price point doesn't matter. It can be ethnic or fancy, scenic or drab, but it has to have great food. Suggestions? On a related note, is there anywhere to get great crabs without driving to Baltimore or further? Mon May 12 16:25:29 -0700 2008 77666 Jesikka 1 3680709 For good (but NOT NYC style) pizza or calzone, try Zio's on Shady Grove Road just east of 270. Mon May 12 16:38:33 -0700 2008 3680676 13599 Ellen 1 3680750 Bombay Bistro. De-lish Indian food. I heard that the new peruvian place is Rockville town enter is suppose too be good. Pho 75 is cheap and can't be beat! Mon May 12 16:47:47 -0700 2008 3680676 94267 HilkaryIC 2 3681256 The peruvian place you refer to is La Canella (sp?) in the Rockville Town Center. I have eaten there with Peruvian relatives and everyone thought it was excellent. Mon May 12 20:08:49 -0700 2008 3680750 176868 steinre1 1 3681095 I've really been enjoying Bob's Noodle, much more so than Joe's (which I find to be somewhat hit or miss). I am currently addicted to the ginger chicken casserole from Bob's. For Taiwanese little plates, try A&J. Their fried chicken is great (as are their scallion pancakes). Mon May 12 19:04:55 -0700 2008 3680676 23633 Jule 2 4784850 The Soft shell crabs at Bob's Noodles 66 (Taiwanese) is a great preparation. Don't know if SS crabs are all that popular in NYC, so this could be something different for you? Sorry you didn't like JNH. It has many fans through the years on Chowhound, especially me. What did you have there? Thu Jun 18 11:18:23 -0700 2009 3681095 10156 Steve 3 4785142 What's with all these year (or years) old topics being resurrected the last few days? Thu Jun 18 12:38:36 -0700 2009 4784850 18274 DanielK 1 3681336 Here are some recent conversations that should help: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/513485 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/486657 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/454135 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/379295 Do you want to pick crabs or eat crabcakes? For crabcakes, try Bobby's in Rockville Town center. Mon May 12 20:43:57 -0700 2008 3680676 10253 wookyluvr 1 4784252 Don't eat crabs anywhere this far from the water. If you must, get to Laurel or somewhere blue collar where people still go crabbing. If you are going to Baltimore, you can get great crab without going into the city. I recommend The Crack Pot in the Towson area. Thu Jun 18 08:46:51 -0700 2009 3680676 1084268 laugh riot 2 4784313 Sorry, not too much for New Yorkers. I am one myself and the pickings are slim here. I wouldn't recommend Zios. There is a place called Giuseppes that has good pizza. Mama Lucia also has good pizza. Both NY style. I think Il Pizzico may still be good. I agree with Bombay Bistro and was impressed tihe the Peruvian restaurant in Town Center. You may have to go further toward DC to get better food. I Thu Jun 18 09:04:51 -0700 2009 4784252 24480 jeb 2 4784853 I didn't realize Towson was closer to where the crabs are harvested than DC, very interesting. Thu Jun 18 11:20:36 -0700 2009 4784252 10156 Steve 3 4785176 Rockville/Gathersburg is not exactly the epicenter of good food in the DC area, but there are a couple of places that are good. If you are willing to drive to Wheaton, there are some good choices too. Bombay Bistro is good Indian. I like Il Pizzaco, but they are more upscale and fancy, not pizza. For BBQ go to Urban BBQ in Rockville. (Corner of Twinbrook and Chapman) Try the wings and soul rolls in addition to the brisket, ribs or pulled pork. If you want a good burger, go to Urban Burger in the shopping center at Norbeck Rd. and Bauer Dr. They will cook it the way you want it, no matter how rare. Go to Sam's Market on Rockville Pike to get Gelato. You can get good Dim Sum at New Fortune in Gaithersburg. Better is to go to Hollywood East on the Blvd. in Wheaton. Also in Wheaton, you can get great shwarma at Max's, or really good Thai at Ruan Thai or Nava Thai. In Gaithersburg try Le Palais for good rustic French cooking. A real hidden gem. Pampangueña Cafe on Frederick Rd. in Derwood is authentic Philippine food. Worth a visit. Inexpensive too. Also try Burma Road. For interesting Greek small plates and a pretty good wine list (also by the glass) and martinis, go to Cava. Drive over to Olney and go to Mannequin Pis for great mussels and Belgian beer. (make a reservation, they are very popular) There are several good sushi places, I like Hinode and Niwano Hana, but there are others that are also popular. I can see how you were disappointed at Joe's, you have to know what is good on that huge menu to be impressed. Thu Jun 18 12:47:12 -0700 2009 4784853 11814 dinwiddie 4 4789700 Pampanguena is closed. They haven't been the best Philippine restaurant for awhile anyway. The best place is Lumpia Pancit on Muddy Branch in Gaithersburg, in the same shopping center as Sushi Chalet and the Grand Mart. Lumpia Pancit is wonderful. Sat Jun 20 05:58:54 -0700 2009 4785176 24926 Transplanted Texan 5 4789840 When did they close? I was there a few times last month and it seemed pretty busy? Sat Jun 20 07:25:43 -0700 2009 4789700 132385 reiflame 6 4790412 I went by yesterday and saw a big 'for lease' sign in the window. Plus the lights were off and it was still prime eating time. Try Lumpia Pancit; you won't be disappointed. I always order the lumpia to go so they fry it up fresh. The adobo is good too. And it's just filled with Filipinos, which reminds me of my many happy years there! Sat Jun 20 12:15:45 -0700 2009 4789840 24926 Transplanted Texan 7 4811888 Hey, just drove by Pampaguena and it was open! The sign was gone and the lights were on. Have no idea what happened. Maybe I was just on drugs last week?? Sat Jun 27 19:08:53 -0700 2009 4790412 24926 Transplanted Texan 2 4813602 Something makes me think I read the Crack Pot closed - not sure. Sun Jun 28 17:20:56 -0700 2009 4784252 288247 ivysmom 1 4785180 You could head to Wheaton and either have Korean at Woo-mi or get some Mexican or Salvadorian dishes at Los Churros. They are both hidden gems. Thu Jun 18 12:48:42 -0700 2009 3680676 1085095 jeremiahrakowski 2 4785356 I need to get back to Wheaton. There used to be a Salv. place, El Pulgarcito, that was great. Thu Jun 18 13:40:46 -0700 2009 4785180 11368 Dennis S 3 4785625 I love CAVA in rockville (Greek food) and Moby Dick (Persian food) in Bethesda and Gaithersburg. Thu Jun 18 15:17:09 -0700 2009 4785356 204182 chicken kabob 1 4790740 derwood: pana thai, Biscotti (italian) rockville: benjarong (thai), damo sushi (sushi), bobby's crab cakes, ora pomadora (italian bistro/adult pizza, urban bbq, sol de espana (spanish), rio grande cafe (tex/mex) la canela (salvadorian), Big Saigon (Vietnamese/Pho), Pho Nam (Pho), Il Pizzico (Italian), Brooklyn Deli (Jewish deli) wheaton: Max's (falafal, schwarma), Paul Kee (authentic chinese/duck house), Wong Gee (authentic chinese), Nava Thai (Thai), Irene's Papusa's (Papusa's), Woomi Garden (Korean BBQ), Azucar (latin), Thai Ruan, Olney: Le Manequin Pis (belgian/mussels), Aroma (latin/tapas), Riccuiti (italian, adult wood burning stove pizza, Olney Ale House (pub) Bethesda: Rio Grande (tex/mex), Cornicopia (italian grocery and sandwich), Panang (Malasian), Jaleo (tapas), Sat Jun 20 14:45:11 -0700 2009 3680676 124764 dining with doc 2 4819343 The Doc has pretty much boiled it all down. Let me add, in Rockville, in the same strip as Joe's Noodle House, the Persian restaurant (and next door market) Yekta Kabobi for order at the counter kebobs (cornish hen my favorite, with a side of order of yogurt/mint). http://www.yekta.com/ As to pizza, as a Brooklyn-born and bred girl, my advice is to skip all pizza down here, except for the artisian stuff, like Mia's in Bethesda, or Two Amy's in DC. If you are stuck down here for good, then you make peace with the pizza (and can even enjoy Mama Lucia's and just tolerate the others). Tue Jun 30 15:41:50 -0700 2009 4790740 24569 Marissa 1 4819465 If you like turkish food there is a really yummy place in a gas station called pizza tempo. They have really yummy pide's, but I wouldn't get there doner kabob. I would say i like their other dishes better like lamachuan. Super yummy. Also their subs are great. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/604573 http://www.pizzatempo.us/coupons/coupons.htm Also there is a great persian gelato place called sam's cafe and market. Very yummy gelato, but very strong flavors! http://www.samcafeandmarket.com/ Also if you are super craving bubble tea (b/c unfortunately there aren't as many places for bubble tea in maryland as there are in ny sigh! :( ) there is a place in rockville called jumbo jumbo bubble tea. I have tried a few flavors but the only one i like is the mango smoothie bubble tea. I have only tried bubble tea from there and nothing else. So you can see if you like any other flavors. http://www.yelp.com/biz/jumbo-jumbo-bubble-tea-rockville http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/362201 Try not too miss NY too much, I know how that can be!! Tue Jun 30 16:30:16 -0700 2009 3680676 107374 bmorecupcake