3 Dining Options Open at Rio, 2 on Way

Three new dining options opened last month at Rio, the 760,000 square-foot lakefront dining and shopping center in Gaithersburg, and two others are on the way.

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls

A lobster roll from Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, which recently opened a new restaurant at Rio in Gaithersburg.
(Photo: Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls/Facebook)

Annapolis-based Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls opened its first Montgomery County location at 201A Boardwalk Place in the space that most recently was the temporary home of Locally Crafted and previously home to Joseph A. Bank.

The menu features lobster rolls, lobster and shrimp salads, lobster BLT, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac and cheese, potato salad, lobster bisque and more. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

Rolls are $21 with an option to upgrade to the “Bar Harbor” for $27, which adds “50% more lobster & tail.” You can also make it a combo, which adds a beverage and side of your choice. Soups, which include lobster bisque, New England clam chowder and shrimp & sausage gumbo, are $6 for a cup or $8 for a bowl. The lobster mac & cheese is $17 and the lobster grilled cheese is $16.

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls has been rapidly expanding since opening its flagship Annapolis location in 2014. The fast-casual franchise has made lobster-lovers out of seafood fans by opening additional locations in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C., Washington state, Texas, Virginia and more.

Han Spot

Han Spot, from restaurateur Chris Zhu of Han Palace in Georgetown, Woodley Park, Tysons Corner and Barracks Row, opened last month at Rio in Gaithersburg. (Photo: Han Spot)

Han Spot, the latest restaurant from restaurateur Chris Zhu of Han Palace in Georgetown, Woodley Park, Tysons Corner and Barracks Row; Live K; Ginza BBQ Lounge; and Karaoke Spot and China Garden, opened on August 9.

The restaurant is located at 9811 Washingtonian Center in the former Union Jack’s space in the Rio Lakefront. Menu items include Cantonese dim sum, Peking duck and other popular dishes from Han Palace and China Garden.

“In addition to all day dim sum, diners can choose from an a la carte or unlimited tasting menu, making it the first unlimited menu tasting restaurant in the Gaithersburg area,” according to the restaurant’s website. “The unlimited tasting menu offers two options, one for $38 per person ($18 per child) and the second option for $48 per person ($25 per child). Option A features a selection of dim sum, appetizers, soups, noodles/rice and dessert. Option B features all included in Option A, with the addition of chef recommended dishes like Han Style Peking duck, MaPo tofu and sautéed squid with XO Sauce. For an additional charge, special dishes like braised abalone with mushroom and live lobster served with ginger and scallions, golden egg yolk and pan fried noodles are also available.”

Daily brunch features all-day bottomless mimosas/Mai Tais/lemon drop martinis, priced at $20 per person. Happy hour is offered Sunday through Friday from 3–7 p.m. and includes cocktails, beers and wines by the glass. A comprehensive cocktail list is also offered, including soju, sake, creative cocktails and spirits. The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Barge dining pier at Copper Canyon Grill

Copper Canyon’s new barge on the Rio Lake is now open across from the restaurant. (Rendering: Brookfield Restaurant Group)

Copper Canyon Grill, 100 Boardwalk Place, has opened its 1,012 square-foot covered dining pier on the RIO Lake.

Customers can access the pier via two gangways attached to the existing boardwalk and there are about a dozen tables that can seat four diners each on the barge.

Cooper Canyon has four locations in Maryland and offers “full-flavored, fresh American cuisine, served in a casual, energetic atmosphere.” The restaurant’s scratch kitchen offers a variety of hearty salads and entrees, including its signature wood-fired rotisserie chicken. The restaurant is open 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday.

Tous les Jours

Tour les Jous, a French-Asian bakery, will open in the former Corner Bakery location at Rio in October. (Photo: Tour les Jous/Facebook)

Construction is underway at Tous les Jours, a French-Asian bakery that will be taking over the space previously occupied by Corner Bakery, at 1 Grand Corner Ave. Corner Bakery closed in February after nearly 25 years at the location. Tour les Jours expects to open in October.

The French-Asian Bakery features a variety of breads, artisan pastries and cakes that are baked in-store daily, as well as a wide selection of coffee/espresso based drinks and teas.

Tous les Jours launched in the U.S. in 2004 specializing in French-Asian-inspired baked goods. Its name means “every day” in French. Currently, there are more than 70 Tous les Jours stores in the U.S. and more than 1,650 stores worldwide.

Koi Sushi

Koi Sushi will move into the vacant space between Chipotle and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls.