Crisfield Seafood to Auction Memorabilia
Crisfield Seafood, a beloved Silver Spring institution since 1945, closed its doors on Dec. 22 after nearly 80 years at 8012 Georgia Ave.
The former Crisfield Seafood in Silver Spring will auction memorabilia, collectibles and other items on Jan. 18 and 19.
(Photos: Crisfield Seafood/Facebook)
Now, customers and fans will have a chance to own a piece of its history. A two-day estate sale, featuring memorabilia, collectibles and small wares, will take place at the restaurant on Jan. 18 and 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
In its final days, lines stretched out the door and down the block, as loyal customers gathered for one last taste of iconic dishes like the “Crisfield Special,” a casserole of lump crabmeat in a delicate white sauce.
Renowned for its unchanged menu and old-school charm, Crisfield was a fixture in Maryland’s culinary history. In 2022, it placed No. 8 on WTOP’s list of “Best Seafood” restaurants. The Washington Post once described it as a place that “deserves to be called a Maryland institution,” serving stuffed shrimp and crab imperial since the days of Harry Truman’s presidency. Over the decades, similar seafood establishments in the area have disappeared, leaving Crisfield as the last of its kind.
Owned by the Landis family since it was founded, the restaurant was run by the third generation of descendants, seven cousins who carried on their grandmother Lillian Landis’ legacy.
Adding to its storied history, Crisfield’s walls featured a tribute to late singer Jimmy Buffett, a frequent visitor whenever he performed in the area.
The Silver Diner on Rockville Pike is closed until Thursday for remodeling. (Photo: Haley M./Yelp)
Silver Diner on Rockville Pike Closes to Remodel
Silver Diner, 12276 Rockville Pike, Rockville, will be closed Jan. 12-15 for remodeling. It will reopen at 7 a.m. on Jan. 16.
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“It’s been 15 years since we moved up the Pike to our current location and it’s time for us to remodel. We will be closing for a few days to spruce up the place, but we promise we will be better than ever,” Silver Diner said in a social media post. “We’re closing Sunday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. through Wednesday, Jan. 15. We look forward to welcoming you again when we reopen our doors on Thursday, Jan. 16.”
The Rockville location, which first opened in 1989 at Mid-Pike Plaza before relocating to Federal Plaza in 2010, is the original Silver Diner. The company currently has more than 20 locations, including an additional Montgomery County location at Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront.
Kapow Buddy reopens at 11 a.m. Friday following a Dec. 23 fire. (Photo: Kapow Buddy/Facebook)
Kapow Buddy to Reopen Friday Following Fire
Kapow Buddy at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will hold a grand reopening from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 17, following its temporary closure due to a utility room fire on Dec. 23.
The restaurant has will have new menu items like halal steak, revamped happy hour deals, catering services and lower pricing starting at $10.99.
Kapow Buddy serves customizable Thai-style bowls.
Virginia’s Souvlaki Bars will become Big Greek Cafes early this year. (Photo: Big Greek Cafe/Facebook)
Souvlaki Bars to Become Big Greek Cafés
Downtown Silver Spring’s The Big Greek Café opened its ninth location in Columbia, Md., a few months ago. Recently, the Maryland-based chain merged with Virginia-based Souvlaki Bar and will open four new locations in Virginia this year.
Souvlaki Bar closed all its locations on Dec. 21 and will reopen in 2025 as The Big Greek Cafés. The upcoming locations will be at 2732 Richmond Highway, Alexandria; 9 Catoctin Circle SW, Leesburg; 2930 Chain Bridge Road, Oakton; and 6519 Leesburg Pike, Sterling. All four had been Souvlaki Bar restaurants.
“We are teaming up with The Big Greek Café,” Souvlaki Bar said on its website. “Stay turned, as we will reopen soon at The Big Greek Café!”
The Big Greek Cafe, known for its fast-casual Greek cuisine, opened its first location at 8213 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, in 2009 and has quickly grown to become a favorite across Montgomery County and into surrounding counties. There are currently Maryland locations in Bethesda, Cockeysville, Columbia, Downtown Silver Spring, Hillandale, Kensington, Laurel, Rockville and Urbana.
Opening dates for the converted Souvlaki Bar restaurants are not yet available.
The former home of Cleveland Park Bar & Grill. (Photo: Google Maps)
Cleveland Park Bar & Grill Moves
Cleveland Park Bar & Grill closed its original location at 3421 Connecticut Ave. NW on Dec. 27 after nearly 20 years, but moved just six doors down the block to share space with Fat Pete’s BBQ at 3407 Connecticut Ave. NW.
The new location will feature Fat Pete’s BBQ, a state-of-the-art New York-style pizza oven, more than 60 HDTVs, an upgraded bar and a new rooftop deck.
The Cabin John McDonald’s has temporarily closed to remodel. (Photo: Google Maps)
Cabin John McDonald’s Closes for Remodel
McDonald’s has temporarily closed its restaurant at 11301 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, in the Cabin John Village shopping center for a complete remodel.
Signage on the store directs customers to the Montgomery Mall location.
The restaurant was set to close in December 2023 after negotiations between Edens and McDonald’s fell apart. Local residents started a petition to save the McDonald’s, which garnered more than 800 signatures in its first 12 hours and more than 2,000 in the first week. Last November, Cabin John Village McDonald’s owner Keri Swenson shared on social media, “I honestly cannot believe I am saying this, but I think the community pressure and the petition WORKED!!!! The landlord called and was eager to sign with us. We are staying open.”
McDonald’s recently closed its North Bethesda location at 11564 Rockville Pike with construction ongoing at the replacement location, which will open with a drive-thru in the former Arby’s at 11710 Rockville Pike.
The Farmhouse Bistro at The Crossvines in Poolesville, Md., placed No. 9 on USA Today’s list of top new restaurants for 2024.
(Photo: The Farmhouse Bistro)
Poolesville Restaurant on USA Today’s Top 20
At the beginning of 2024, USA Today went on a mission to find the best new restaurants. To find them, the newspaper asked a panel of food and travel experts to nominate their 20 favorite new restaurants that opened in the past year. Then, readers voted for their top picks to determine the winners.
The Farmhouse Bistro at the Crossvines, 16601 W. Willard Road, Poolesville, finished No. 9 on that list.
The Crossvines opened in the summer of 2023.
“The Farmhouse Bistro at The Crossvines is an artisanal restaurant set in the hillsides of Poolesville, Maryland,” USA Today wrote. “Come here for the pork ribeye, served with Swiss chard, rhubarb compote and Marsh Hen Mill grits, and pair it with a wine flight from Crossvines’ own superb estate collection. Sit outdoors by a wood fire pit looking out at 380 acres of verdant countryside and you’ll not only have a great meal, but one soothing city escape as well.”
The Farmhouse Bistro is open from noon-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
Jongro BBQ in Wheaton is now Inju Korean BBQ. (Photo: Selina I./Yelp)
Jongro BBQ Rebrands as Inju Korean BBQ
Jongro BBQ, 11160 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton, has rebranded as Inju Korean BBQ.
According to Inju, the restaurant has introduced several new menu items and is now offering premium meats. While the exterior signage has yet to be updated, the rebranding process began in October. The restaurant also has a location in Annapolis.
Jongro BBQ originally opened in March 2022.
Inju serves beef, pork, chicken and shrimp cooked on grills at each table. The menu also includes banchan (side dishes), vegetables cooked on the grills, soups and starters. There is an all-you-can-eat lunch option for $22.99 and dinner option for $32.99.
The bar menu includes soju, beer, cocktails and wine.
Inju is open from 11 a.m.-midnight daily.
