Foodie News: Restaurant Weeks, New Cigar Lounge, Bethesda Favorites Make a Comeback

Get caught up with the food scene in Montgomery County and Washington, DC, with "1 Meat, 3 Sides." This week, locals ramp up for restaurant weeks, a new cigar lounge and two Bethesda staples announce they're reopening their doors.

Restaurant weeks are nigh, exciting many a local with the prospect of fancy meals at a third of the price.

Over 200 DC-area restaurants will participate in Washington’s Restaurant Week on Feb. 4-10. With three-course meals costing $20.13 at lunch and $35.13 for dinner, restaurant week gives Washington diners a chance to sample some of the area’s finest restaurants for a fraction of the cost.

Several Montgomery County restaurants will participate, including Jaleo and Redwood Restaurant and Bar in Bethesda, and Chef Geoff’s in Rockville. Read more on Potomac Patch.

Discounted fine dining begins in Bethesda just ahead of DC Restaurant Week, Bethesda Patch reported.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Restaurant Week diners will notice a few changes to the semi-annual event this year: more varied price points and a new sponsor. Winter’s version takes place Jan. 24 through Feb. 3.

Meals begin at $12 or $16 for two courses at lunch. For dinner, customers can spend $22 for two courses or $33 for three courses, according to Bethesda Magazine.

Read more on Bethesda Patch.

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Chevy Chase's new cigar lounge opens today in the newly renovated Chevy Chase Pavilion, Patch reported.

The 93-seat cigar lounge—"featuring plush banquette seating, leather club chairs and intimate nooks and tables"—sits next to celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio's new Range restaurant, which will provide the lounge a small plates menu.

Civil Cigar Lounge will be open at 4 p.m. each day, and will close at 2 a.m. Sunday nights through Thursday nights, and at 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Read more on Chevy Chase Patch.

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The news that long-time Bethesda restaurant Foong Lin would close as a result of the Woodmont Triangle redevelopment broke hearts across the area, but owner Fu Cheung has plans to re-open at the Moon Gate space at 4613 Willow Lane in Bethesda.

According to Cheung, many of the menu’s dishes will be familiar to Foong-Lin fans, but it will also include several new styles, including Szechuan and Hong Kong-style fare. Renovations, including new paint and lighting, to Moon Gate are in the works. An opening date has not been announced.

Read more on Potomac Patch.

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Bethesda restaurant Persimmon could reopen as soon as February, as the decade-old restaurant finishes up a makeover that includes a lighter interior and a more relaxed atmosphere.

The restaurant closed in July for renovations and had planned to reopen in October. Delays have pushed the opening, but a restaurant spokesperson told DC Eater that Persimmon should reopen its doors soon.

B-CC Restaurant Week has listed Persimmon as a winter 2013 participant on its website.

Read more on Bethesda Patch.