New American Restaurants near Potomac, MD

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

“Locals remember the Old Angler's Inn as a posh French country restaurant but today it has both fine dining inside as well as outside on the front patio near the lovely water fountain. In the back of this charming establishment off the canal along the Potomac river on MacArthur Boulevard a few miles from Potomac Village it has casual dining, live music and a very relaxed vibe. The service in both areas is fantastic. While the front retains the fine dining experience which OAI has always been known for the back patio has relaxed options like pizzas.

I was so pleased to see at night we were able to park on the canal side parking area and there was security. This area is very uneven and has pot holes. Perhaps bring a flashlight or drop people first then park. During the day this public lot is used by hikers, campers, bikers and kayakers. The restaurant lot is large but does fill up on a busy night.

I have many fond memories of Highschool dates and family dinners here over the years. Now my friends are playing in the band while their children and grandchildren watch. The service in both areas is wonderful. The OAI merchandise is so adorable I am thinking Christmas gifts. The current owner loves live music which is in the back patio but he also has a fun Spotify channel of music. Check out OAI on Spotify.“

“Such a great experience celebrating our 41st anniversary at Seasons 52! Our server, Ben, was extremely gracious and made sure we were able to take our time, and celebrate our special evening. He made sure to time each course perfectly in time with our own pace. We really appreciate the management and chef at Seasons! They were very generous with a champagne toast, a special tuna tartare anniversary presentation, and a special celebratory dessert! Of course, we topped it off with their signature mini-desserts of key lime pie and the cheesecake & caramel. Each of our courses was superb - from the appetizer of the charcuterie board, to the lobster bisque soup, and the excellent wood-grilled filet mignon made perfectly to my wife's and my liking! Accompanied by one of our favorite Bordeaux wines. Many thanks to our server, Ben, the chef and the management team at this Seasons for taking such great care of us! You are absolutely a reason we keep coming back!“

“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.“

“I've been a regular customer at this yard house location for the past two years. The overall experience is consistently topnotch. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is vibrant, and the service is truly excellent. Eric the bartender deserves a special mention, he is absolutely amazing, highly attentive, and always provides incredible service!“

“My wife and I had brunch on the patio at the White House location today and it was fantastic! We had a mezze platter appetizer, Havana sandwich and shakshuka & arepas entrees, and tres leches for dessert. All were spectacular, as was the service! Highly recommended!“

“Delicious brunch and excellent service!“

“Ballston Local is an amazing place to dine in, or order out. Everything in the menu was delicious and the brunch was far better than expected. Loved it every single time“

“Had an amazing dinner at The Simon. The restaurant looks beautiful with a great bar and interior. The drinks were excellent—we tried the Veranda and Lake Anne Smoke cocktails. The Carolina Gold Rice Risotto was my favorite. Great service and a wonderful experience overall.“

“Chelsea was an amazing waitress! She was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal. She had a great attitude, checked on us regularly without being intrusive, and made us feel genuinely welcome. Her service was fast, professional, and helped make our dining experience even better. I would definitely ask for Chelsea again and highly recommend her!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Can't believe it took me this long to eat here. Definitely worth it. Can't go wrong with anything u pick. The only think that competes with the food is the quality of the drinks. However both of those are outshine by the service. This place definitely makes it onto my standard rotation list.“

“Excellent dinner: Moules Marinières and Salade Niçoise and an inexpensive and tasty Bordeaux.“

“Had an absolutely fantastic dinner at this Yard House location! The vibe was lively, the food was hot and delicious, and the craft beer selection was on point as always. What really made the night stand out was our server, Noni. She was incredibly welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable about the massive menu. She took excellent care of our table, ensuring our drinks were always full and our food came out perfectly. Despite the restaurant being quite busy, she maintained a warm and positive attitude. Noni went above and beyond, and we will definitely be returning—just hoping to sit in her section again!“

“This restaurant, since it opened, has been one of the most consistently excellent in the entire WDC area, and a favorite of mine. The oysters are the best available, the wine list is outstanding and quite international, and the food is always cooked to perfection--but it is expensive, just plan on that. I had Chilean seabass (very $$$) and my guest had a salad (all of their salads are original and terrific) and their wonderful New England clam chowder (which could use a bit more bacon, as another restaurant in town does....) And this is the only restaurant in Washington where I ALWAYS have dessert, their mini-triple creme brulees -- superb! Finally, we had a new waiter, Alex, who was simply the best, most knowledgeable and thoughtful I've experienced in Washington this year. Amazing, keep him!“

“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.“

“The service was immaculate. Really warm and kind people who were efficient and smart. PK was our waiter and did a great job. He left us all with a smile on our face. Excellent.“

“We enjoyed brunch here for our anniversary. I have several food allergies and I was well accommodated. The food was wonderful and the service friendly. We will be back“

“Literally some of the best steak I’ve ever eaten in my life. And I’m very picky about my steaks“

“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“

“We decided to do lunch at Ted’s Bulletin. The ambience of the restaurant was very nice and modern. The portion sizes are large, prices are reasonable and the food taste delicious.“

“This is for the Silver Diner in Chantilly,VA. We live a little over 2 hours away but stopped here for dinner after car shopping and we were not disappointed! My husband and son both had milkshakes and burgers and I got the meatloaf. Classic diner menu but really elevated and creative. Everything was delicious, loved the decor, service was friendly and bathrooms were clean.“

“Absolutely spectacular! The food, the atmosphere, the event coordinator, the staff, absolutely everything was top notch. We absolutely loved it.“

“So happy to have Red’s within walking distance of my house. We recently took a group of friends there and were lucky to get the private room. Great food and service! Tried their oysters for the first time and they were really good.“

“Today, after landing at DC Reagan we decided to waste time while waiting for our hotel room at the Archer Tysons to be prepared. While searching AI this restaurant came up so after reading the reviews we decided to visit.

The aesthetic of the restaurant was gorgeous, neither feminine nor masculine but definitely modern and warm. We decided to sit at the bar which was very comfortable and boasted plenty of seating. The bartender/server, Carlos , looked up and saw us and initially didn’t speak ..my husband tapped my leg which is usually an indication to leave but I said let’s give him a chance and boy were we happy we did !

Carlos was fun, courteous, prompt, and extremely knowledgeable during our visit. He gave us his recommendations on drinks, food, and also shared all the specials the company was offering.

Hubby had the Burger and fries and I had the Turkey Burger with sweet potato fries. We also had alcoholic beverages , hubby had a delicious maple old fashioned and I had the blackberry margarita. Everything was cooked to perfection and Carlos put his entire foot in those drinks 🥰!

For dessert I ordered an inflammation Wellness drink because the ingredients looked interesting and it was delicious!

We shared stories of our travels and Carlos shared his experiences in Thailand. The restaurant honored a military discount for me (retired Veteran) and our bill with a 25% tip was about $91

Overall I would say our experience was a 10/10! Restaurant and restrooms were extremely clean, food & drinks were delicious and Carlos was the cherry on top!“

“Great atmosphere and good food.“

“Comfortable, friendly, good choices, efficient service, tasty food. Nice plating.“

“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“

“Amazing atmosphere and some of the best cocktails in the area!!!“

“The branzino was fresh and deliciously prepared. The accompanying bread was freshly baked. I highly recommend this restaurant.“

“Very good. And I will be returning“

“Great Easter Brunch small plates. Service was fantastic! Enjoyed our Easter. Bar looks fun! We were upstairs! Seating outside too! Reasonable pricing“

“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.“

“Thanks! Food was excellent!“

“We had a large family gathering, we placed the order last minutes. We haven’t tried filipino food in the past, however everything turned out to be perfect , sweet and savory. The entire family enjoyed the food, the price is reasonable too. The customer service is excellent, the owner is very responsive. We will definitively come back again!“

“Went to Clarendon Circa for Saturday brunch. Lovely morning and we were able to sit on their outside patio. Had the French toast and chicken and waffles. Both were delicious. Service was pleasant, attentive and accommodating. Overall a great experience.“

“Food was awesome! Atmosphere was warm! Wait staff extremely attentive. We LOVE that it is farm to table, they have their own bee hives and grow their own herbs! Menu was unique and the octopus appetizer was SO crazy good!“

“Good pastries, good coffee drinks and alcoholic drinks. Good venue for music.“

“Great place! We had a large birthday party for my husband this past weekend. The food, wine, and set up indoors and outdoors made it such a special celebration. Many people said it was the best food that they have had at a party. It was amazing!“

“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.“

“Reliable! Always delicious!“

“My entire group loved the atmosphere and the food was awesome! The staff was excellent, prompt, kind and engaging! Will definitely be going back!“

“Matchbox used to be one of my favorite restaurant chains. Now that it's owned by some big corporate company, it sucks. The drinks and food are expensive at the Mosaic location. and there for very few people there. It used to have such a great vibe; it was always full of people at the tables and the bar. please bring back the original owners!“

“The food appears... lesser quantity than in DC. The biscuits were smaller, and harder. I saw no bacon. The sausage (pork or chicken) was not "week done" as with the DC restaurant. Also there wasn't any shrimp. I got there at 9:am, and was told reservations were needed. So I Sat at the bar. Def a 3.5 rating on food here“

“Cafe X is by far our favorite breakfast spot. The food is incredible and the staff are absolutely lovely. It used to be a weekly tradition until we moved a few states away. When visiting, we always make it a priority to stop by! Don’t skip out on this gem!“

“We brought in 16 people for a college/friend reunion and had a blast. The food and staff were amazing and the vibe inside was outstanding.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I have always had great experiences at Bear Branch Tavern, but today I had Ash and Maria as my server and bartender. They were fantastic. I could not recommend them enough. Every time I go back I am going to try and get Ash as my server. 10/10 experience, 10/10 food. Will definitely be back.“

“First visit today for my birthday lunch and loved the vibe and the food!“

“The Maryland Crab dip was the 💣!!!! Everything we tried was delicious!!! Server was fantastic!!! Great atmosphere!!!“