50 Best American Restaurants near Derwood

“This is my hometown watering hole! I live on Maui now but OTWC is always my first meal when I come home. Maryland Crab Soup and the Swing Wings is what I always get!“

“I came here last night with my boyfriend and kids the owner was so nice and friendly the food was delicious everything thing we tried was so flavorful and enjoyable I was worried the boys would be finicky about but they also enjoyed the food very very much they said they would love to come back and so would we“

“We ate at Matchbox and highly recommend it! The food was excellent, and our waiter, Jose, provided wonderful service. It’s always a good sign when locals recommend a place—and this one definitely lived up to it.“

“We hadn't been to Persimmon since they renovated the space. It was definitely different -- more casual than before. That being said, we had the sunset dinner ($49 for 3 courses) and the food was outstanding. It was just the right amount of food since the portions are a little smaller than the regular menu but this way we had appetizers and dessert and weren't too stuffed by the time we left. We would definitely go back.“

“Our server was very friendly, and gave us a lot of helpful information about the restaurant or even recommendations of what food to order and explore the restaurant.

I was surprised about the Zucchini chips as the sauce and crispness of the chips was delicious.

The atmosphere is very unique and fun to be in.“

“Absoutely loved BurgerFi at White Marsh they did a great job accommodating a 13th birthday party after an Activate event ... made for a wonderful experience. Highly recommend!“

“One of MD best dinners. This place would go head to head with any of NJ establishments.“

“Without a doubt the best place in Rio. The customer service is exceptional and the staff really pays attention to you as a person, not just a customer. The food is excellent and the place is well maintained.“

“There are steakhouses that sell beef, and there are steakhouses that sell ritual. Medium Rare in Bethesda understands this distinction with the calm certainty of a Parisian waiter who has seen three revolutions and still refuses to split the check.

You arrive thinking you’re getting dinner. What you’re really getting is doctrine: bread warm enough to make diplomacy possible, a salad dressed with enough mustard to wake the dead, and then the famous procession — steak sliced thin beneath that green peppercorn sauce that lands on the table like artillery support. The fries arrive in impossible abundance, followed shortly by the second helping, because Medium Rare subscribes to the old French principle that restraint is for Calvinists and people with no appetite.

The room hums with Bethesda ambition: lobbyists, exhausted consultants, first dates, silver-haired couples who’ve been arguing since the Carter administration. Everyone united beneath the banner of red meat and clarified butter. Glasses of wine appear and disappear with military efficiency. Somewhere a server announces “second round of fries” with the moral gravity of a cathedral bell.

But the restaurant’s greatest flourish may be hidden in the bathroom, where French lessons adorn the walls like graffiti from a civilized empire. You stand there memorizing useful phrases while washing peppercorn sauce from your hands. “Où est la bibliothèque?” “Je voudrais un café.” It is perhaps the only restaurant in Maryland where you can leave knowing both how to order steak frites and how to ask directions in Lyon.

And somehow it works. The whole enterprise feels faintly absurd, deeply confident, and unmistakably charming — like an American trying very hard to become French and accidentally succeeding for two hours at a time.

Medium Rare does not pretend to be subtle cuisine. It is abundance, repetition, butter, noise, and confidence. In Bethesda, that may be the closest thing to authenticity there is.“

“Mother’s Day celebration with family was especially great because of the amazing atmosphere and awesome service at Barrel and Crow. It was our first time visiting this establishment and certainly will not be our last. Shout out to the owner and her staff.“

“I had the local strawberry and watermelon salad and it was the most original and delicious thing I've eaten all summer. Combines sweet and juicy with crunchy and savory, with a great house-made dressing. I wish I'd tried this place sooner.“

“The cheesesteaks are soooo good. I ordered because I smelled the good onion smell coming out while I walked past. I said I would come back and order. I’m so glad I did. I will definitely be back🫶🏾💯💯💯💯🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️✅✅😘😘“

“Wonderful food and service. We all had different dinners off the menu. The French onion soup was some of the best I had. We walked in and were met with smiles and seated fast with no reservations.“

“Great food and service, but disappointed that they have been out of AC for two months. They need to tell their customers at the door before they are seated. Not right especially if customers have respiratory issues. Some in the restaurant that day were experiencing discomfort Stay away from the Rockville Location until they fix the AC“

“Reagan and James are absolutely the BEST! From opening night, when Reagan was our server, she made my family and me feel so welcome with her kindness and warmth. Her exceptional customer service is the reason I keep coming back. I recently had the pleasure of meeting James, and his customer service is just as outstanding. They both go above and beyond to create a wonderful experience. These two are truly amazing!“

“5 stars for a casual dining chicken place.

The prices are very fair for the quality. Staff is always helpful and kind. They have the usual suspects in terms of side dishes, but they have spa actual healthy but also tasty options. Ask the fried chicken sandwiches we have tried are delicious. Same with roast chicken, wings, and salads.

For a sense of what they are like, when you order water to stock they give you large cup of water with plenty of ice, rather than most places that give you a puny cup of shame.“

“Great experience. The hostesses were friendly. Our server was exceptional, attentive to detail, and provided a healthy balance in seeing what we needed. The food was great and the dessert was delicious. The overall welcoming atmosphere.“

“Fantastic food and fellowship with some amazing scientists and staff from NIH/NCI this Holiday season. 🎄🍭😊“

“Consistently delicious food (great fish), fun atmosphere, good service.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best Salmon BLT I’ve ever had! Will come back!“

“Hello Sir, I accept your proposal.“

“Once you try one of the Sunshine Store's sandwiches, you will wonder why it took so long to try one! 😊 My husband and father in law introduced me to this hidden pleasure the first time I visited the area. We started with breakfast (tasting the local culinary treasure of scrapple), then I was introduced to their burgers on the same trip, and I was surprised that everything is cooked to order. I have not found any burger yet that is close to comparison!! My husband's family has made this a regular stop for sandwiches over several decades and generations. My father in law (nearby farmer/owner of Greenstone Custom Farming) has eaten there for several decades along with feeding his crew from this hidden gem, this has been a favorite of my husband's since he was old enough to eat there, and now it is a favorite place for our children to eat with grandpa. The store is small and with limited seating, it would be best to order the food to go or if you are eating alone you can sit at the counter and watch your food be prepared. A must try in the area and definitely worth the drive through the beautiful countryside!“

“Food and wine are never a fail. This is my spot.“

“Johana made our experience at First Watch exceptional. She was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind from the moment we sat down. She checked on us at just the right times, made great recommendations, and made sure everything came out perfectly. Even though the restaurant was busy, she stayed upbeat and made us feel like a priority. It’s rare to come across service that feels so genuine, and Johana absolutely delivered. If you’re dining here, I highly recommend asking for her. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you, Johana, for making our breakfast such a great experience!“

“Anita was our server tonight while my fiancé and I celebrated our engagement, and she was FANTASTIC. Her food recommendations were spot on, and she was just all around a delight. She was very attentive and genuinely excited for us. All around she and the Seasons staff were another bright spot in our day today.“

“Great place with great food and a good atmosphere“

“Great food and drinks. Weekend live music!“

“Accepting of those with disabilities. Thank you.“

“The grilled chicken sandwich with guacamole comes with french fries. It was delicious.“

“Great local great food , gotta go early, sadly don't take reservations“

“Great dogs and beer selection. Cheese fries were also delicious. Would recommend to try this spot if in Bethesda, MD.“

“Good food. Excellent service.“

“Loved it, will definitely go again! Highly recommend!“

“The happy hour from 5-7 is fun, affordable, and delicious. The bartenders must have overheard our large group talking about a birthday celebrations because they treated us to amuse-bouche that made us sure to return! We love their copycat cocktail the most. :)“

“My favorites are the crabcakes, bbq ribs and the coleslaw! Beautiful,welcoming atmosphere always.“

“Yep:P it was very good the food the ppl and the reset urs for“

“Love this place, the food is awesome“

“I have been to this place about 10 years ago by one of my golf members who was an army veteran. My back ground is culinary/hospitality industry and was so impressed by service and also food quality.. His family and my family celebrated our special occasions every year. Now, we are coming back here again on August 27th to celebrate his 68th wedding anniversary and their 90years birthday also. This is his wife's pick and I and he are excited for next week event.“

“Cute neighborhood spot. Selection of drinks and oven fired pizza. The happy hour was vast with a cute list of specialty drinks. We came to catch up but I wasn't impressed with the menu. Definitely, a lot of vegan or trendy dishes but nothing popped out. She settled on the Beet Salad with Salmon and I a chicken sandwich with home fries. She liked her salad but I wasn't impressed with my selection. It was indeed a hearty portion but did have much flavor. The spicy Aoil is what gave it elevation. The fries were very oily and didn't have any salt. I only ate the bottom half with toppings and 1 fry. The Witches Brew was strong but needed to be microwaved. I wouldn't come back but I hear it's a neighborhood watering hole. Maybe the weekend brunch or pizza offering is better.“

“The jambalaya was super good, flavorful sauce and tender chunks of seafood. It wasn't spicy to me, but still enjoyable regardless. Our waiter was super friendly and accommodating despite how busy it was. I will definitely try to come back and get different items from the menu!“

“Loved this place. The atmosphere, food and most of the drinks were great. Victoria, the barista, knew her coffee and it showed in the drinks. Great place to hangout, chill or go out on a date.“

“Traditional Irish Pub atmosphere.“

“Excellent food and fantastic service! What a great locally owned restaurant! Highly recommend!!!“

“Great cuisine, my risotto was just loaded with black truffle. The menu evolves with the season, and the staff is super friendly. Few places around Olney that I'm impressed by, and I can't wait to go back.“

“Food is great…. You don’t have to interact with a bunch of staff, but they do have employees to assist if needed. They are efficient and nice menu with a lot of options. Everything is packaged neatly!!!!!!!!!! This place was needed I speaks a lot of lunches here. Thai beef fried rice is amazing and in this picture I have the beef and broccoli everything was fresh and steamy.“

“The food here is extremely delicious and they have the best fries I've ever had from a restaurant. Scrumptious... if it wasn't as unhealthy and expensive as it is I'd eat here every day. It's my favorite vegan food place in Rockville. I always get the Egg Sammy and fries. 1000/10 Updated from previous review on 2026-01-12“

“We have been enjoying the amazing food at Hard Times Cafe for many years!! Our favorites are the chili of course & the original chicken wings. The staff is always friendly & attentive. It is a no frills sort of place,but who needs frills with food this good!! Highly recommend!“

“I stopped by here for lunch after my dental appointment and decided to give it a try. I was immediately impressed by the wide variety of options on the menu. Ordering was fast, easy, and straightforward, making it a great spot for a quick meal. If you enjoy having lots of choices, I definitely recommend checking this place out!“

“I love this place. One of the few remaining spots in Moco for live music and local atmosphere.“

“I recently organized a baby shower for my daughter and opted for catering services from Crisp and Juicy's, Frederick location. The food was exceptional and efficiently packaged for pickup. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed the cuisine. The customer service was outstanding, and Liz, the manager, demonstrated remarkable professionalism and assistance throughout the process. It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with her. I intend to utilize Crisp and Juicy's services for my future events.“